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HARTFORD 

An Epic Poem 



BY 

WILLIAM COLEGROVE 

11 »*»«• « 




BOSTON 
RICHARD G. BADGER 

The Gorham Press 
1905 



Copyright igo.q by William Colegrove 
All Rights Reserved 



A 



LIBRARY of CONGRESS 
Two Copies Received 

JAM 3 1906 

Copyrlfht Entry 
LASS eft, XXC. No, 



I 3 4 / * 






Printed at 

THE GORHAM PRESS 

Boston, U. S. A 



BOOK I. 

Arms and the men I sing who erst to Connecticut land 
came, 

Founding a Puritan Colony there by the River at Hart- 
ford ; — 

Men of intelligence chiefly, and men of integrity also, — 

Men whose Religion was certainly not a mere shallow 
profession, 

But was the constantly active incentive, the root and the 
mainspring 

Of their demeanor and customs, their enterprise, and of 
their life-work. 

Lovers of Liberty and the advantages of it by nature, 

Yet their endeavors were mainly to gain that Freedom 
of Worship 

Which was denied them where they were born and had 
sported in childhood. 
Much they had suffered in Albion land for the free- 
dom of Conscience, — 

Scourged, and imprisoned, and fined, and committed to 
murderous hot flames, — 

Scorned, and pursued with implacable hatred, they bore 
it a long time ; 

Then, in despair of obtaining the rights they had earn- 
estly sought there, 

They had sojourned in the Netherlands, waiting and 
hoping for some change 

Making it possible they should return to that 
beautiful England 

Where they were born, and for which in their tedious 
and pitiful exile 

Always they yearned with a warmth and a tenderness 
not to be set forth 

Fairly and fully with adequate strength and perfection 
of language. 

(3) 



4 HARTFORD 

Driven at length to abandon all hopes of their ever 
returning, 

They had resolved to attempt to pass over the perilous 
Ocean, 

And to create for themselves in American wilds a new 
England 

Where they might worship in freedom and safety the 
God of their Fathers. 

Great tribulations they suffered ; and perils unnum- 
bered pursued them; 

But they were over the ocean at last, and had built for 
themselves homes. 

Humble, but precious and cheerful, at Plymouth, and 
Salem, and Boston. 
Others arrived ; and the Settlements grew with a 
vigor surprising. 

Boston at length was o'ercrowded, — embarrassed al- 
ready with numbers, — 

So that a part of the people selected another location 

Where there was room for all comers, and christened 
the settlement Newtown. 
Over the Church that was formed in the Colony there 
we behold now 

Hooker, the servant of God, and the faithful instructor 
of young men. 

England the home of his earlier days, and his native 
place Marfield, — 

Holland the scene of his labor in years of his weari- 
some exile ; — 

Then with his people to Boston he came, and sojourned 
for a time there 

Ere they determined to form a new settlement over the 
river. 
He was a man of intelligence, prudence, and skill in 
devising 

Measures to benefit every class of his friends and his 
neighbors. 



HARTFORD 5 

Many the books that he wrote ; and great was the fame 
of his genius. 

Easily chief of the heroes, and first in the number of 
great men 

Counted as leaders and heads of the people who 
founded the new State, 

Yet he came not as a Conqueror, nor an invader of 
men's rights, — 

Not with belligerent squadrons marshalled for pillage 
and plunder, — 

Not with the roaring of cannon, nor gleaming and flash- 
ing of broad-swords, — 

Not with destroying chariots, nor with the prancing of 
horses 

Trained for the battle, and carrying warriors clad in 
thick armor, — 

Not with the rattling of drums, nor screams of the 
piercing and shrill fife, — 

Not with the eagles of conquest, nor with the banners 
of red war, 

But with equipments for enterprise higher, and nobler, 
and grander. 
Wielding the weapons of reason and logic, he battled 
for great truths ; 

Wielding the Scriptures in wisdom, he battled for jus- 
tice and right ways ; 

Panoplied well in the armor of righteousness, all his 
endeavors 

Were for the good of his people, and building up beau- 
tiful Zion. 

"Light of the Churches" the title of honor that good 
people gave him ; 

Gentle of spirit, and tolerant of the opinions of others, 

Charity crowned the bright pyramid formed of his 
graces and virtues. 
Kindred in spirit with Hooker, and sharing his la- 
bors as Colleague, < 



6 HARTFORD 

Stone, without contest, was nearly his equal in work 

sacerdotal, — 
Highly esteemed for his gifts, and his patience, and 

wonderful meekness, 
Much he encouraged, and strengthened, and helped his 

friends and companions. 
England the place of his birth, and the place of his 

studious young days, — 
England beloved and lamented, deserted at last with 

great sorrow. 
Thomas and Samuel nurtured their flock in com- 
mendable union, — 
Not undermining, but each one esteeming the other 

more worthy; — 
Bravely they labored in harmony, sowing the seed of 

the Gospel, — 
Patiently waiting and watching, enduring privations 

and hardships. 
Grateful for mercies already obtained, yet Hooker 

perceived still 
Many conditions adverse to their temporal progress 

and welfare. 
Sterile the soil there; scanty the harvests rewarding 

their labors ; — 
Rumors had come of a beautiful Valley more fertile far 

inland ; — 
Not satisfactory were the surroundings in matters of 

conscience ; — 
Nearer together the Colonies were than would policy 

place them, 
If it were meant to allow them fair room for their fu- 
ture expansion ; — 
New comers also were ready to purchase their houses 

for money; — 
Chiefs in Connecticut Valley invited the English to 

come there ; — 
Providence seemed to be urging them on in a manner 

peculiar ; — 



HARTFORD 7 

Hence they determined to make a most earnest united 
endeavor, 

Crossing the wilderness rough intervening with all 
their possessions, 

Thus to gain lands more desirable, and a more excellent 
freedom, 

Founding upon the great River a little Connecticut 
New-town. 
Prior to this, at the earnest request and advice of a 
Sachem, 

Governor Winslow and others from Plymouth, explor- 
ing the country, 

Visiting ever)' part of the fertile and beautiful Valley, 

Found it inviting, and offering many inducements to 
settlers ; 

Hence they determined a Colony soon to dispatch to 
that region. 
News of the movement conveyed to the Dutch at the 
Island Manhattan 

Caused them to plan a bold scheme of obstruction, and 
seize the great River. 

Quickly they sent and constructed a Fort on the River 
at Dutch Point, — 

Hoping that thus they might baffle the plan of the Eng- 
lish at Plymouth. 
Vain their hope ; for bold Holmes, the Commander, 
in spite of their threatening, 

Passed them with scorning, and landed his men and his 
cargo at Windsor. 

There they established a Trading House ample, and 
made it a strong-hold ; — 

People from Boston soon came to their aid ; and anoth- 
er contingent 

Planted themselves at the Wethersfield meadows below 
the Dutch fortress. 
Then the redoubtable Governor, Wouter Van Twiller 
the smoker, 



8 HARTFORD 

Calling a Council of War in his Castle on Island Man- 
hattan, 

Quickly related with eloquence rare in the stops of his 
smoking, 

English aggressions in seizing the banks of Connecti- 
cut River, — 

Threatening vengeance, and vowing that shortly by 
force he would drive them 

Out of his realms, and recover the lands they had craft- 
ily stolen. 

"Early to-morrow the Army," said he, "shall set out on 
its long march ; — 

Seventy men must be ready ; and Captain Van Dunder 
shall lead them." 
Then he dismissed the assembly of valiant and won- 
dering warriors, — 

Summoned Van Dunder, and ordered him straightly to 
march in the morning. 
Captain Van Dunder, obeying the order, had marched 
"in the morning" 

After a month had been spent in obtaining the men and 
their rations, — 

And in the course of a week had proceeded as far as the 
old Fort 

Standing in loneliness there on the bank of the River 
at Dutch Point. 
Having recruited the strength of the forces with beer 
and with slumber, 

"Onward and upward" beside the smooth current he 
carefully led them 

Till he discovered the threatening walls of the For- 
tress at Windsor. 
Now reconnoit'ring with care the position, and find- 
ing it stronger 

Far than he thought, and perceiving the rashness of 
any endeavor 

Forcible entrance there to secure, he halted his Army. 



HARTFORD 9 

Then he addressed with commendable prudence the 
soldiers he led there : 

"Not to attack such a Castle as that have we come all 
the way through 

Forests and marshes and waste lands, and waters our 
progress opposing." 

Sending a Flag then he said to the waiting and vigilant 
English 

"Wouter Van Twiller requests and commands you 
quickly to leave these 

Regions included within the domain which he rightfully 
governs." 
Waiting no answer, he thereupon turned and de- 
parted in great haste, 

Marching with vigor, nor stopping for eating or sleep- 
ing till dark night 

Covered the land, and removed from his vision the way 
he must follow ; — 

Then with reluctance permitted the men to repose on 
the bare ground, — 

Making repast upon what they could find that would 
satisfy hunger. 
Rousing them up when first day-light appeared, he 
went rapidly onward, 

Marching with vigor, nor stopping for eating or rest- 
ing till high noon ; — 

Then with reluctance permitting the men to repose for 
a short time, 

Hastily eating whatever they'd gathered to mollify hun- 
ger, 

"Forward" he ordered, and forward proceeded with 
resolute quick-step, 

Marching with vigor, nor stopping for eating or rest- 
ing till night-fall 

Brought him, all covered with glory, again to the Island 
Manhattan, 

Where he related his wonderful deeds while he smoked 
with composure, 



io HARTFORD 

Making - Report to the Governor, Wouter Van Twiller, 
the smoker. 
Afterwards Winthrop the younger from England ar- 
rived with Commission 

Straight to erect a stout Fort at the mouth of Connecti- 
cut River. 

This he constructed, and, doing so, founded the Colony 
Saybrook. 

Scarcely complete was this Fortress commanding the 
mouth of the River 

When a Dutch vessel with men and provisions at- 
tempted to enter. 

Finding their enterprise thwarted and baffled, they sul- 
lenly turned back, 

Leaving the beautiful region above in control of the 
English ; 

Yet many years was the Fortress maintained on the 
River at Dutch Point. 
Hooker and Stone and their People, a hundred, at 
Colony New-town, 

Gathering wagons and carts and provisions, and cattle, 
a great herd, — 

Gathering implements needed by farmers, and poultry, 
and seed-grain, — 

Selling their houses and lands, and whatever was heavy 
and cumbrous, — 

Choosing the beautiful time in the flowery June for 
their journey, — 

Earnestly seeking the blessing of God in their work for 
his glory, — 

Strong in faith that their prayers will be heard, and 
that Heaven will guide them, — 

Bidding adieu to the friends who remain in the place 
they are leaving, — 

Start on the route, but encamp just a little way out of 
the village. 
Here they examined their wagons and carts and the 
yokes of their oxen, — 



HARTFORD n 

Implements also with which they were furnished for 
trades and for farming, — 

Stocks of provisions, and medicines too, which were 
needful to carry, — 

Wearing apparel for Church and for labor, and shoes 
for the winter, — 

Arms for defense, which were also the implements 
needful for hunting, 

Seeking to find whether all were in proper condition for 
service, — 

Whether in starting had any one matters important for- 
gotten. 
Here too they interchanged final adieus with their 
friends and their neighbors 

Who had delayed to present them their earnest and last 
consolations, — 

Wishing them health and success in their dubious peril- 
ous journey ; — 

None of them making, however, professions of friend- 
ship more earnest, 

Bidding "God speed" to the Pastor, than Cotton, the 
Pastor of Boston. 
Some were disposed to insinuate broadly that Cotton 
was joyful 

Seeing his rival depart to more distant and desolate re- 
gions ; — 

Also that Hooker was glad to escape from the eye of 
a censor. 

These were gratuitous guesses of those without posi- 
tive knowledge. 
Prudent, they carefully settled the method and order 
of marching: 

First went pioneer men with their axes and shovels and 
crow-bars, 

Also with three or four muskets, with suitable powder 
and lead-balls, — 

Finding or making a way through forests and marshes 
and rough hills, — 



12 HARTFORD 

Rounding the Lakes, and fording or bridging the num- 
erous Rivers, — 

Having no guides, but taking direction by compass, like 
sailors, — 

Shooting whatever occasional game they happened to 
meet with, — 

Marking the places where water and fuel and grass 
were abundant, 

Fitting them well for the purpose of transient and 
peaceful encampment. 
Next were the cows and their drivers, — mostly 
young boys with ambition 

Thus to display their ability and their incipient man- 
hood. 

Oxen too went with the herd, which were held as a 
prudent reserve for 

Cases of any disaster to those in the regular service. 
After these followed the carts and the wagons, right 
heavily loaded, 

Carrying all the provisions, and seeds, and the many 
utensils, — 

Carrying furniture, scanty but wisely selected and 
precious, — 

Carrying women and children, and feeble and invalid 
old men, — 

Each of them drawn by a team of four heavy and tract- 
able oxen, — 

All of them driven by men in the vigorous prime of their 
man-hood, — 

Driven with patience and skill and the wisdom of vet- 
eran sages. 
After the wagons was borne in a litter the wife of the 
Pastor, 

Feeble and languishing, but with a cheerfulness due to 
her strong hope 

Calming the fears and inciting the confidence of her 
companions. 



HARTFORD 13 

Chiefs were appointed with power to command, 
should emergencies need them, 

Over each part of the boldly adventurous column of ex- 
iles. 

Every man had his work and position with prudence 
assigned him, 

Making his services always conduce to the general wel- 
fare. 

Over the whole expedition was placed, as a General 
commanding, 

Hooker, the faithful and active and vigilant pastor and 
teacher. 
All the arrangements for marching at last were com- 
pletely accomplished ; 

And on the morrow at sun-rise all were assembled for 
worship 

There in the circular area bounded by carts and by 
wagons, 

Promptly obeying the vigorous call of the summoning 
conch-shell. 

Brief was the service ; the breakfast was eaten ; the or- 
der was given 

Quickly to form the long column in specified order for 
moving, — 

Then at the signal go forward in hope of Jehovah's pro- 
tection. 
Forward they went ; and soon they were moving 
through "forest primeval" 

Where were the "murmuring pines and the hemlocks" 
making, as always, 

Music unique and sublime and impressive, but Only the 
sub-base 

Grand in that wonderful Chorus praising the Lord for 
his goodness 

Which on that morning resounded, and strengthened 
the hearts of the Pilgrims. 
Loud was the song of the Robin ; and sweet was the 
warble of Blue-bird ; 



i 4 HARTFORD 

Mellowest flutings of Black-birds were filling the forest 
with gladness ; 

Masterly Thrush from his perch on the sassafras trees 
was excelling 

All his companions in melody varied and lively and 
charming ; 

Bobolink warbled, and reveled in wealth of his musical 
diamonds ; 

Plain little Sparrow astonished and charmed by his vo- 
cal rejoicing; 

Sweetly the notes of the Crow and the Jay in the har- 
mony blended ; 

Voices of Squirrels exulting in freedom were happily 
tuneful ; 

Even the frogs in the marshes took part in the joy and 
the love-songs ; 

And of these minstrels so lively, all lovely with Na- 
ture's adorning, 

Not the sounds only, but colors were part of the music 
inspiring. 
Honored its Maker the scarlet delight of the Tana- 
ger's plumage ; 

Aiding his song too the flames of the Oriole's glory 
were flashing ; 

Waking the echoes, the chorister, Grackle, was proud 
in his purple ; 

Duck-of-the-Wood with his beauty enlivened the rivers 
and lakelets ; 

Cardinal-bird in his cap and his mantle of redness was 
shining ; 

Lark-of-the-Meadow too added his quota of musical 
beauty ; 

Yellow-bird glorified also the crown of the blossoming 
thistle ; 

Wake-up was bright with his colors both many and 
lovely commingled : 

Indigo-bird in his luster of blueness was clearly unriv- 
aled; 



HARTFORD 15 

Humming-birds too with all tints of the rain-bow were 

flitting in sun-shine. 
Slowly but cheerfully moved the train of the jubilant 

Pilgrims ; 
Catching sometimes inspiration from songs of the wild- 
erness warblers, 
Loudly they sang as they went, and rejoiced in the 

praise of Jehovah. 
Onward they went in the shade of the old trees giving 

protection, 
Or in the openings wide were exposed to the force of 

the sun-beams ; — 
Fording the streams or else using extemporized dan- 
gerous bridges, — 
Braving the sands of the uplands, — braving the mud of 

the valleys, — 
Crossing the marshes on corduroy roads which tested 

their patience ; — 
Thus they proceeded, but halted for dinner an hour 

before mid-day. 
Taking three hours for their eating and resting and 

feeding their cattle, 
Onward they moved in their resolute patience till six 

in the evening. 
Finding a suitable place for the night, as in yesterday's 

camping, 
Making a circle of wagons, and placing a Tent at the 

center, 
There they assembled for service of prayer, for song 

and for sermon ; — 
Afterwards, sentinels posted, they soon were reposing 

in slumber. 
Peaceful the night ; and the light of the Moon in her 

fullness and glory, 
Helped by the magical sound of the Whip-poor-Will's 

note, was entrancing. 
Rested, and fit for another day's work, they arose in 

the morning. 



16 HARTFORD 

Early the people were moving, many beholding the sun- 
rise; 

Filled was the area; joyful, earnest, and solemn the 
worship ; 

Then soon spread was the table ; and frugal the meal of 
the morning. 

Forward the Emigrant wagons went straightway over 
the wild waste, 

Setting example which myriads of others have carefully 
followed ; 

Bright was the day ; and the march was at intervals 
pleasantly varied. 

Beautiful wild-flowers sometimes gilded and gladdened 
the landscape ; 

Valleys refreshed by streams oft tempted the Pilgrims 
to linger ; 

But their time was too precious to waste in luxurious 
long rests. 
Scarcely the pioneers onward had started with vigi- 
lant caution 

When they perceived with surprise in a thicket directly 
before them, 

Browsing at leisure, some half dozen forms of indigen- 
ous red-deer, — 

Seeming almost as if sent by the special command of 
Jehovah 

For the support of his People in making their wilder- 
ness journey. 

Three of them fell by the shots of the hunters, and fur- 
nished the table. 

Noon-tide resting afforded the requisite time for the 
cooking ; 

Bountiful feast then satisfied those who were weary and 
hungry. 
Rested, hopeful, and grateful, promptly they start at 
the signal ; 

Afternoon journey was made with success through 
country more open, 



HARTFORD 17 

Level, and free from obstructions than what they had 
previously traversed ; 

And, much elated, they came to the place of the even- 
ing encampment; 

But a surprise came suddenly then, and disturbed their 
composure. 
One of the Scouts from the front came in haste to 
relate his adventure, 

And to receive from those in authority further instruc- 
tions. 
During - the day a black bear had appeared in advance 
of the hunters ; 

And they had followed him briskly in hopes of obtain- 
ing a further 

Means of supplying the wants of the people while mak- 
ing their hard march. 
Several miles they had followed the game when they 
came upon high ground, 

Whence looking forward, they saw with alarm at some 
distance beyond them 

Columns of smoke rising upward as if from some town 
or encampment. 

Leaving the wild beast then to himself, they had cau- 
tiously crept through 

Swamp and forest till, reaching the top of a hill further 
onward, 

They could plainly perceive in the valley a camp of the 
Indians. 

Some indications they saw that those campers were 
probably Pequods, 

Hostile and dangerous foes to the Colonies founded by 
white men. 

Quickly and silently then they withdrew to their pio- 
neer station, 

Sending this comrade back to report the bad news to 
the Elders. 
Soon were assembled in council the dignified band of 
the chief men, 



18 HARTFORD 

Hearing the facts and devising a plan in their eminent 
prudence 

Which should avert in this perilous crisis the threaten- 
ing danger. 

Various plans were proposed and discussed ; but at 
length it seemed wisest 

Urgent request for assistance to send to their neighbors 
at Boston. 

One of the young men soon was selected to carry the 
message 

Written with care, and signed by each man of the Gov- 
erning Council. 
Vigorous, faithful, and true, and discrete was this 
messenger reckoned ; — 

None more trusted than Theodore Worthington went 
with the concourse. 
Taking the letter prepared by the Council, and wait- 
ing for nothing, 

Cheerful, he started alone to accomplish his perilous 
mission. 

When he was quite out of sight, then the meal of the 
evening was taken; 

Manifold duties pertaining to camp were neglected no 
longer ; 

Due preparation was made for the Sabbath beginning 
at sun-down. 
Ere the first star in the twilight appeared, they as- 
sembled for worship, — 

Praising the Lord for his goodness, and mingling their 
prayers for protection, 

Craving God's blessing to rest on the messenger lately 
departed, — 

Asking for wisdom and grace from above to assist their 
endeavors, — 

Praying for strength to resist in the perilous hour of 
temptation. 

Words of encouragement happily fell from the lips of 
the Elders; 



HARTFORD 19 

Strong in their faith, they were edified much by the 

words of the Bible. 
Then were they able in calmness to rest through the 

hours of the dark night, — 
Rising, refreshed, ere the sun in the east reappeared in 

his glory. 
Works of necessity done, — catechetical questioning 

over, — 
All were assembled in due time — seated in regular or- 
der, — 
Ready to hear the instruction, adapted expressly to that 

time, 
Which they expected, not vainly, from Hooker, the vig- 
ilant Pastor. 
Rev'rently offered at first was a fervent, but short, 

invocation 
While the good people were standing in attitude fit for 

devotion ; 
Then came a Lesson, impressive and grand, from the 

writings of Moses, 
Showing the dealings of God with his People while 

crossing the Red-sea. 
Solemnly then with impressive and tuneful accord rose 

the voices, 
Many and strong, of that earnest and warmly devout 

congregation 
Singing a Psalm of David, the King and the Prophet of 

Israel. 
Prominent there were the voices of two of the beau- 
tiful maidens, 
Abigail Sumner the elder, — the younger one Talitha 

Mansfield. 
Abigail's brother, too, Lemuel, rivaled his sister in 

singing ; — 
Friend and companion was he to Worthington lately 

departed. 
After the singing the prayer of the Pastor was long 

and impassioned, — 



20 HARTFORD 

Pleading for grace and direction, pleading for wisdom 
and patience, — 

Pleading for blessings adapted to all the needs of the 
people. 

Then tuned the singers another, — that wonderful psalm 
of the Prophet, 

Saying "The Lord is my rock and my fortress," "my 
horn of salvation." 

Afterwards followed the sermon by Hooker, the won- 
derful preacher. 
Equal to all the demands of the hour, he spoke warm- 
ly and wisely, — 

Giving advice and encouragement such as was most of 
all needed ; 

Raising the hopes and allaying the fears of the weak 
and despairing, — 

Urging to prudence and caution and patience the 
stronger and bolder, — 

Warmly exhorting to trust in the Lord in performance 
of duty, — 

Making the forest resound with the tones of his elo- 
quent thunder; — 

Bravely he grappled, and solved with success, the great 
problem before him. 

After the Sermon, and singing again, came the long 
benediction. 
Viands prepared ere the Sabbath began served the 
people for dinner; 

Then one hour was devoted to rest and to grave conver- 
sation ; — 

Speaking of what seemed weighty and wise in the 
words of the Pastor ; — 

Asking with unfeigned kindness whether the sick were 
improving, — 

Querying whether the teams would proceed on their 
way in the morning 

Or would wait till the messenger sent should return 
with assistance, — 



HARTFORD 21 

What should be done, should his efforts at last be found 
unavailing. 
Sound of the conch-shell signalled the time of the 
afternoon service ; 

Promptly again were the worshipers ranged in the or- 
der assigned them, — 

Stone, the wise Teacher, taking his turn in the labor of 
preaching. 
Seeking to call the minds of his hearers away from 
this earth-life, 

Brightly he painted the scenes of the promised heavenly 
glory, — 

Pleasures enduring, — so greatly transcending all happi- 
ness mundane 

As to preclude all reason for halting in choosing be- 
tween them. 
Long were the services, — more than would now meet 
with ready approval ; — 

Great the endurance our fathers displayed in their Sab- 
bath-day "resting"! 
Soon disappearing the sun in the west, and thick 
darkness approaching, 

Sentinels posted, and Camp made secure from surprise 
in the night-time, 

Council of Elders convened to decide upon plans for 
the morrow. 

Rain would probably come before morning, hind'ring 
their progress ; — 

Worthington could not possibly make his return before 
Tuesday ; — 

Possible news from the front might indicate danger in 
moving ; — 

Better conditions than usual favored their present en- 
campment ; — 

All were agreed that 'twas best, at least for a day, to 
remain there. 

Trusting and hopeful, they went to their rest ; and quiet 
their slumbers. 



22 HARTFORD 

Copious rain fell during the night ; and dark was the 
morning ; 

But there came from the front a messenger bringing 
good tidings ; 

Hunters again had approached the place of the Indian 
Lodges, 

And had perceived that the warriors there were already 
in motion, 

Moving to southward, carrying game they had taken in 
hunting, 

Burning their huts, thus making it evident they were 
departing. 
Great the rejoicing these tidings produced in the 
camp of the white-men ; 

Gathered again was the Council of Elders, elated and 
gladsome, ■ 

Ready to act as God in his Providence seemed to be 
leading. 

No reinforcements now were required ; and all of them 
thought best 

Straight to withdraw the request they had sent to their 
brethren in Boston. 

Lemuel Sumner soon was selected to carry the mes- 
sage ; 

And before evening he had departed with joyful assur- 
ance. 
Darkness of morning was followed by brightness and 
glory at evening ; 

Eastward, adorning the sky, was the arch of the beau- 
tiful rain-bow ; 

Westward the sun unobscured shone brilliant and fair 
at his setting ; 

All in the camp were rejoicing except the two radiant 
maidens, 

Intimate friends thev, Abigail Sumner and Talitha 
Mansfield. 

Talitha, early in childhood afflicted, bereft of her par- 
ents, 



HARTFORD 23 

Found an asylum and fostering- care in the house of the 
Sumners ; 

And in the bliss of a faithful affection she lived with 
her true friend. 
Rumor was rife that Worthington had for this Tali- 
tha Mansfield 

More than the common regard of a neighborly casual 
friendship ; 

Hence it was thought that her evident grief at the time 
of his absence 

Clearly betokened the fact of reciprocal tender emo- 
tions. 

Abigail Sumner felt anxious of course for the fate of 
her brother 

Going alone in the dark through the wilderness dismal 
and howling, 

Traversed by bears and by panthers and wolves, and in- 
fested by Indians. 

Readily, then, could the maidens sympathize each with 
the other ; 

And, from the wagons a little retired, they mingled 
their weeping. 
Nothing requiring delay, on the morrow the Emi- 
grants journeyed ; 

But they proceeded with moderate speed, and with cir- 
cumspect caution. 

Making a limited progress, and camping again before 
night-fall. 

Here was herbage enough, and water for men and for 
cattle ; 

But there was scarcely a thing to be found for the pur- 
pose of fuel. 

Hence in the morning they started again without wait- 
ing for breakfast, — 

Finding ere long an abundance of wood and of water 
and forage. 

Here they remained till the after-noon sun was already 
descending ; 



24 HARTFORD 

Then, going forward, they came to the station selected 

for night-camp, 
And had made for the day an advance of only a few 

miles. 
When all affairs of the Camp were arranged, and 

when supper was over, 
Signal was given for meeting for usual prayer at the 

center ; 
And with alacrity came all the worshiping people to- 
gether. 
Praises were mingled with prayers ; and comforting 

words were there spoken ; 
Fervent petitions were specially offered for messengers 

absent, 
And for their speedy return to their friends who were 

anxiously waiting. 
Cordial greetings and mutual blessings came after the 

service, 
Showing the warmth of the brotherly love that united 

the people ; 
Then to their rest for the night they retired, and were 

buried in slumber. 
Brightly the morning had dawned ; and the pilgrims 

with confidence cheerful 
Made themselves ready for marching, but tarried a lit- 
tle for breakfast, 
And were yet at the table when into their presence came 

Sumner, 
Wearied, and haggard, and pale, and looking especially 

anxious. 
"Why do you thus come alone? and what are the 

tidings you bring us? 
Why is your countenance sad ? and why is Worthington 

not here?" 
Such were the queries that met him at once as he 

stood in confusion 
Looking around as if seeking for some one not present 

before him. 



HARTFORD 25 

"Has not, then, Worthington come?" said the mes- 
senger, visibly trembling ; 

"If he has not yet arrived, I can tell you no cause for his 
absence. 

Possibly yet he will come pretty soon, and explain all 
his movements ; — 

Now let the Council assemble ; and I will report my 
proceedings." 
Soon were assembled apart all the members compos- 
ing the Council. 

Eager to hear the Report, but embarrassed with grave 
apprehensions. 

Sumner then told them his story in order with careful 
minuteness. 
Starting on Monday, he journeyed till Tuesday late 
in the evening, — 

Finding 'in Boston that Worthington had his men 
ready for marching. 

Having delivered his message, the men were dismissed 
with great pleasure ; 

And 'twas arranged to return to the Camp on the fol- 
lowing morning. 

Sumner remained over night with a former acquaint- 
ance in Boston, 

Worthington going to stay with a friend of his living 
at Newtown. 
Standing a half-mile out of this Town on the route 
of the pilgrims, 

Forming a prominent land-mark, stood a magnificent 
Oak-tree. 

Here the two men had agreed to meet in the morning 
at sun-rise ; — 

Sumner was there at the time ; but Worthington made 
no appearance. 

Waiting a little, and thinking his friend by some chance 
was o'ersleeping, 

Sumner went back to inquire at the house of his lodg- 
ing at Newtown, 



26 HARTFORD 

And was assured that Worthington promptly had 

started in due time, 
Saying that he was to keep his appointment strictly at 

sun-rise. 
Hearing this, Sumner returned to the Tree, where he 

waited a long time, 
Thinking the other had strayed from the path in the 

fog of the morning, 
And would come to the Tree after wand'ring a while 

in the forest ; 
Possibly though, should he come quite late to the road 

further onward, 
He would proceed to the Camp without waiting to find 

his companion. 
Reasoning thus, and then carving his name with a knife 

on the tree-trunk, 
Sumner had left the place sadly, and followed the trail 

of the wagons. 
This was his story ; and Councilors heard it with 

grief and misgivings. 
Soon they determined to send a Commission to search 

for the absent 
Messenger ; and they selected three men the most 

trusted and worthy, 
Urging them straight to depart, and investigate every- 
thing fully, — ' 
Making Report of the facts at the earliest possible mo- 
ment. 
Less than three hours had elapsed ere the men were 

pursuing their journey. 
Rumor had recently spread in the Camp that Sumner 

was also 
Greatly enamored, and seeking the hand of fair Talitha 

Mansfield ; — 
Hence it appeared that these young men were in verity 

rivals, 
And that their seeming friendship was only a politic 

feigning. 



HARTFORD 27 

Then there quickly developed a gen'ral and lively sus- 
picion 

That the returning lover had murdered his rival com- 
panion. 
Hindered so long by events of the morning, the 
Council thought not best 

Now to remove the Camp till after partaking of dinner. 

That being over, and everything ready as usual for 
moving, 

Forward the caravan went, and made a good after-noon 
progress. 

Nothing occurred on the way that seemed specially 
worthy of record 

Saving that near the place they selected for evening en- 
campment 

Sassafras trees were discovered, whose wholesome and 
delicate fragrance, 

New to the people, astonished them all, and was reck- 
oned delightful. 

Greatly esteemed for reputed medicinal virtues inher- 
ent, 

This was the first of American products composing a 
Cargo 

Taken to Europe in one of the ships of commercial ad- 
venture. 
Friday they followed all day the course of a beautiful 
river, 

Joyfully making their Camp for the night on its flowery 
margin, — 

Toyful, all but the Sumners and generous Talitha Mans- 
field. 

Here they gladly replenished their stock of provisions 
by fishing ; — 

Here too one of the rashly adventurous boys in his 
bathing 

Plunged into water too deep, and hardly was rescued 
from drowning. 



28 HARTFORD 

Two of the boys, named William and John, were full 
of acumen, 

Restless, and busy from morning to night in action of 
some kind. 
Keenly alert, they noticed in passing whatever un- 
usual 

Species of tree or shrub or flower the country afforded. 

Once they discovered the Benzoin shrub, the favorite 
Spice-wood, 

Pleasantly fragrant, and reckoned a sovereign specific 
for fevers ; — 

Also they found the Calamus root, now christened the 
Sweet-flag, — 

And were especially pleased when they met with the 
beautiful shining 

Winter-green leaves, with the luscious scarlet berries 
commingled. 
Crossing a swamp, they saw with surprise and hast- 
ened to gather 

Curious Side-saddle flowers, with their wonderful 
pitchers of water, — 

Pitchers that rival in graceful design the most elegant 
Greek Vase. 
Finding one day as they wandered together a plant 
they had never 

Seen, they laughed at its form; and then, pulling it up, 
they examined 

Quickly the bulbous root that seemed almost like a 
turnip. 

Each of them tasting the root, they were pleased at first 
with its sweetness ; 

But ere a minute had passed they began to revise their 
opinions ! 

As on the African plains two sprightly and nimble Ga- 
zelles, when 

Lion approaches, intending to take one of them for his 
dinner, 



HARTFORD 29 

Suddenly leap simultaneous, bounding away in their 
terror, 

Leaving the foe far behind, and outstripping the wind 
in their flying, 

So these venturesome youths, impelled by a common 
emotion, 

Suddenly start for the point where soonest they might 
obtain water, — 

Racing superbly, — rivaling famous "swift-footed 
Achilles,"— 

Reach at same moment the river, and hurl themselves 
into the channel ! 

Filling and rinsing their mouths with water, — repeat- 
ing the process 

Over and over again, — they finally ventured to test 
their 

Powers of expression, and tried to set forth their can- 
did opinion, 

Saying the thing they had tasted exceeded in fiery 
venom 

Even the most concentrated essence of African Pep- 
per! 

Never again did they hanker to taste of the Indian 
Turnip! 
Afterwards, walking together alone, they encoun- 
tered a smallish 

Animal which to them seemed very much indeed to 
resemble 

Household cats, those favorite pets so familiar in 
England; — 

Black with a beautiful stripe of white on his back was 
the creature; 

But when they came quite near him, they thought his 
breath was like garlic; — 

Stronger in fact, two to one, did it seem than both 
garlic and onions! 

When they returned to the Camp, all the people were 
visibly troubled, 



30 HARTFORD 

Saying- the boys had brought the breath of the beast 
in their clothing! 

Going, then, out from the Camp, and washing their 
clothing a few times, 

Finally they were permitted to enter the presence of 
others. 
Searching one day for "greens" in a swamp, they 
presently saw there, 

Thriftily growing, a cabbage-like plant which they 
fondly imagined 

Finely would serve their purpose for dinner and sup- 
per and breakfast; 

But when they broke the leaves and the stalk, they 
found that the odor 

Equaled the breath of the "pussy" they met with be- 
fore in the forest! 
Walking one day in the woods, they came near to 
the nest of a Partridge, 

But were persuaded to follow the seemingly poor 
wounded bird that 

Fluttered away on the ground just a very short dis- 
tance before them; 

Yet when they thought themselves certainly almost 
ready to seize it, 

Strangely the wounded and fluttering Partridge ap- 
peared to recover, — 

Rose in the air with vigorous wings, and with wonder- 
ful whirring 

Left them astonished, and vanished completely from 
sight in the distance! 
Pois'nous bane-berry plant they mistook for Sar- 
saparilla, 

Just as others much older than they have done in 
times later; — 

Once they were terribly frightened by croaking of 
Frogs in the marshes; — 

Very excusably so in opinion of people of Wind- 
ham ; — 



HARTFORD 31 

Afterwards barely they missed of attacking a ravenous 
Panther; 

And still later they tried to capture a nest full of Hor- 
nets ! 
Boys such as these in following years became vig- 
orous worthy 

Ancestors famous of men like valorous General Put- 
nam. 
Saturday, crossing the River, and finding but little 
obstruction, 

Forward the Emigrants went, and made more than 
their usual advancement. 

Choosing the site of their Sabbath-day's Camp in a 
place of convenience, 

Early they halted, and made with due care all the 
proper arrangements. 
Sunday the services solemn afforded a fitting occa- 
sion 

Strongly to urge on the people the duty of Charity, — 
foremost, — 

Chief of the Graces, — that suffereth long, — and that 
thinketh no evil. 

Languid the singing, for some of the heretofore prom- 
inent voices. 

Silenced by grief, could not venture to mingle at all 
in the chorus. 
Scarcely the afternoon service was done when the 
sentinel watching 

Saw in the distance three men who appeared without 
doubt to be coming. 

Could the Commission have finished their work and 
their journey so promptly? 

Or were the men, in the distance approaching, more 
probably strangers? 
Waiting a while in suspense, the people received the 
assurance 

That the Commissioners were in reality rapidly com- 
ing. 



32 HARTFORD 

Presently then were the Council assembled, and ready 
to meet them. 
Soon they arrived, and proceeded at once to report 
to the Council. 

Starting on Tuesday, they halted in Boston ere day- 
light on Wednesday; — 

Sleeping a little, and making inquiries, proceeded to 
Newtown, 

Finding the house where Worthington slept, and get- 
ting responses, — 

Then they proceeded to visit the Oak-tree, — promi- 
nent land-mark, — 

Where they examined the name quite recently carved 
on the tree-trunk. 
Up to this point they found all the facts were as 
stated by Sumner; 

Then with a band of assistants they entered on vigor- 
ous searching. 
Placing themselves on a radius line from the tree 
as a center, 

Standing at uniform distances one from another of ten 
feet, 

Wheeling to left then, and marching in regular circles 
concentric, 

Scanning each foot of the ground as they passed, they 
completed the circuit. 

Doubling the length of the radius, standing upon it in 
order. 

Wheeling again to the left, they circuited back to their 
stations. 

Thus they proceeded till, half a mile north of the 
Tree, they discovered 

Something exceedingly gruesome and horribly shock- 
ing to mention. 
There were the bones of a man whom the wolves 
had but recently eaten, — 

Scattered and gnawed, and stripped of the flesh, and 
some of them broken, — 



HARTFORD 33 

Frightful to see, and filling each man who beheld 

them with horror! 
Nothing remained of the clothing, not even the scant- 
iest fragment; 
But in a neighboring nook was a handkerchief quietly 

lying, 
Showing initials, a T. and a W. marked in the corner- 
Neatly embroidered by hands that were certainly 
skillful in such work. 
Known was the fact that Worthington recently car- 
ried a like one; 
Hence they concluded the bones were those of the 

messenger missing, 
Who had been killed by the wolves, or murdered and 

left for their feasting; — 
Absence of clothing appeared to sustain this last sup- 
position. 
Gath'ring the bones, they carried them quickly and 

safely to Newtown, 
Buried them there, and carefully marked the place of 

interment. 
Then they returned in great sadness, bringing the 
handkerchief with them. 
Greatly disturbed, then the Council straight called 
the Assembly together, 
Gave the Report without change to the people, and 

showed them the hand-cloth, — 
Asking if any had facts to present that would lead to 

conclusions 
Other than those the Commission with sorrow and 
pain had adopted. 
Then arose Talitha Mansfield and said the Com- 
mision had wrongly 
Based their decision on facts that were not, and could 

not be, proven; — 
Certainly this was not the handkerchief Worthington 
carried; — 



34 HARTFORD 

That was a cloth of a different texture entirely from 

this one; — 
Diff'rent the style of the letters that her hands 

wrought in the corner; — 
She had made handkerchiefs similar quite, and just at 

the same time, 
Giving to Worthington one, and the other to Lemuel 

Sumner; — 
If they would only compare this last with the one they 

had brought back, 
Plainly they'd see in the two things not only diff'rence 

but contrast. 
Then they examined the handkerchief carried as 

usual by Sumner, 
Finding it not like the one they had brought from the 

forest at Newtown. 
Great the perplexity then of the people, and much 

did they wonder 
Whether the Worthington bones had been gathered 

and buried in sadness. 
Welcoming earliest rays of the morning, anxiously 

hopeful, 
Every one promptly discharging the duties incum- 
bent upon him, 
Early the Colonists waited the usual signal for march- 
ing. 
Onward they went, and ere night made more than a 

common day's journey. 
Next day, briskly alert, they moved with success 

even greater; 
And on the third they halted in sight of Connecticut 

River. ' 

Then began murmuring; — many the words of com- 
plaint and repining; 
"Were we not told the Connecticut Valley was won- 

drously fertile, — 
Grassy and flowery and loamy, and free from all sorts 

of obstructions, 



HARTFORD 35 

Ready to yield to the settler abundant returns for his 
labor? 

Now that we've reached it, see what is the real and 
present condition! 

Sandy and barren, — encumbered with trees, and worth 
nothing for culture!" 
So were the people discouraged; and some of them 
bitterly anxious, 

Thought it were better at once to prepare for return- 
ing to Boston. 
Soon to the ears of the Council were brought these 
bitter complainings; 

But they replied "Not yet have we entered the land 
that was promised; 

Yonder Connecticut River is merely our River of Jor- 
dan; 

That we must cross; for the beautiful land of our 
hopes is beyond it." 
Here then they rested a while; and some of them, 
climbing a tall tree, 

Viewed from a distance, like Moses of old upon favor- 
ing Pisgah, 

Broadly extended, the land on the opposite side of 
the River. 
Slaughtering one of the cattle, the people had beef 
for a few days ; 

Fish from the River made delicate feasting, — especial- 
ly salmon ; — 

Corn was obtained in abundance from some of the vis- 
iting Indians. 
Comfortable thus in regard to provisions, the peo- 
ple were cheerful, 

All but the sorrowing maidens, whose grief found but 
little abatement. 

Worthington probably murdered, and Sumner yet un- 
der suspicion, 

Darkened their spirits, and left them no relish for any 
enjoyment. 



BOOK II. 

Not like the Jordan when Joshua crossed was Con- 
necticut swollen; 
But it was deeper than fordable streams, and enor- 
mously wider 
Than could be spanned by tentative amateur efforts at 

bridging. 
Boats there were none; but soon 'twas determined 

a raft to construct there 
Large enough safely to carry a wagon across with its 

loading. 
That being finished, the cattle went over the River by 

swimming; 
Then each wagon was carried in safety across on the 

raft-logs ; 
And in like manner the people went quietly over the 

Ferry. 
Previous settlers there were but few, and feeble the 

Hamlet ; 
Much they rejoiced to see others arrive who would 

render it stronger. 
Gladly they welcomed the Pilgrims, and offered them 

such entertainment 
As their painfully straitened and close circumstances 

permitted. 
Broad was the prairie before them; luxuriant grass 

was there waving; 
Beautiful flowers intermingled, abundant, made lovely 

the landscape; 
And without doubt the country was such as but few 

had imagined. 
Great the rejoicing then that arose; and with hearty 

thanksgiving 
Quickly the people spontaneous met in assembly for 

worship, 

(36) 



HARTFORD 37 

Praising - the Lord in their prayers and their songs for 
his wonderful goodness. 

Then they rested; and sweet was their slumber after 
their journey. 
Next day the Council surveyed the position, and 
made an assignment 

Proper and just of land to the families taken in order; 

And in this those who had earlier located there were 
included, — 

Each one receiving two acres of Company land for his 
homestead, — 

Land that was purchased from Indian owners expelled 
by the Pequods. 
Then each man repaired to his homestead with oxen 
and wagon. 

First in the order of work was the plowing and plant- 
ing of gardens, — 

Making provision as far as they might for the coming 
of Winter; — 

Next they constructed slight booths that might serve 
for shade and for shelter; 

Then they proceeded to build themselves houses in 
which they might tarry 

During the rigorous cold of the terrible season ap- 
proaching. 
Pushing this work, they labored in several regular 
sections; 

Five men, giving their strength and their teams, built 
easily one house, 

Then constructed another, and others in rapid succes- 
sion, 

Till they had finished a house for each man of the 
laboring section. 

All then united to build what should serve for a 
Church and a school-house. 
Great was the work; for the timber was cut in the 
far distant forest, — 



38 HARTFORD 

Hewn with the ax, or split with wooden beetle and 
wedges, — 

Drawn from the woods by oxen slow to the place of 
each building, — 

Then put together in rough, and fastened with cum- 
berous tree-nails. 
Scant was material for building; great ingenuity 
therefore 

Helped the new-comers in use of numerous primitive 
methods. 

Walls were made of hewn logs, and sometimes logs 
without hewing; 

Even turf in some cases supplied the deficit of lumber 

Wooden latches and hinges were almost the only ones 
used there; 

Long coarse grass and wild reeds were often conven- 
ient for thatching; 

Mortar untempered was also hastily dug from the 
clay-beds; — 

Not for the laying of brick and of stone, but for plas- 
tering side-walls, — 

Stopping of holes, and filling the chinks of the crook- 
ed and rough logs. 

Shingles were largely prepared from the primitive 
timber by using 

Cross-cut saw, and the ax, and the beetle, the fro, and 
the draw-knife; 

Thongs from the untanned skins of the animals killed 
in their hunting 

Served for other and various family use, and for latch- 
strings. 

Windows of glass were a later and costly convenience 
of Hartford. 

Wells were not dug ; but they welcomed the water ob- 
tained from the River. 
Late in the Fall the Church was complete, and 
ready for using. 



HARTFORD 39 

Solemn the service, and simple the rites of the Church 

dedication; 
But at the close the Pastor requested the people to 

tarry 
While they should hear a strange and very surprising 

announcement. 
Then he related that one of the neighboring people 

of Windsor, 
Visiting him had identified fully the handkerchief 

brought back 
By the Commissioners when they returned from the 

forest at Newtown. 
This man, Taylor by name, and formerly living at 

Plymouth, 
Said that the handkerchief surely belonged to one 

Timothy Winthrop ; — 
That the initials set in the corner were wrought by his 

sister; — 
That he had seen them while she was doing them, and 

at her dictate 
He had presented the handkerchief, when it was fin- 
ished, to Winthrop; — 
That at the end of May this Winthrop had visited 

Newtown, 
But had never returned, and that people supposed he 

was murdered. 
Taylor then rose and confirmed to the people what 

Hooker had stated, 
Making request that the handkerchief should be sent 

to his sister. 
All were agreed that this should be done ; and soon 

by returning 
Vessel the article went on its sorrowful journey to 

Plymouth. 
Now the Commission admitted that probably they 

were mistaken 
Thinking that Worthington's bones were found in the 

forest at Newtown; 



40 HARTFORD 

And they remembered that, being in haste, they neg- 
lected to measure 

Such of the bones as would show the stature of him 
they belonged to. 

Hence they determined again to go back and investi- 
gate further, 

And the visiting neighbor from Windsor agreed to go 
with them. 

Worthington, tall and athletic, stood six feet two in 
his stockings; 

Winthrop, however, as Taylor averred, was half a foot 
shorter. 
When they had measured the bones, they found 
them fully agreeing 

With the stature of Winthrop, but not with that of the 
other. 

Hence, then, at last it was certainly known that 
Worthington's relics 

Thus far had not been found; and the mystery seemed 
to grow deeper. 
Taylor then, taking the bones, conveyed them safe- 
ly to Plymouth, 

Where they were buried by friends in the place of 
their permanent resting. 

Having completed this work, the Commissioners 
turned their steps homeward, 

Carefully searching the route for remains, but finding 
no traces. 

Faintly glimmering hope survived in the hearts of the 
maidens; 

But the mass of the people believed that never would 
any 

Tidings be heard of the man who had suddenly van- 
ished so strangely. 
Following custom, the people at first called their 
settlement New-town, — 

Naming it after the town from which they had lately 
departed. 



HARTFORD 41 

Soon, however, they found themselves weary of this 
appellation; 

And as Cotton was specially honored in naming of 
Boston, 

So they determined to honor their well-beloved dili- 
gent Teacher, , 

Samuel Stone, who had come from the beautiful Hart- 
ford in England. 

Fittingly, then, they called their beautiful settlement 
Hartford. 
Planting was late, and small in amount; but the 
soil, being fertile, 

Yielded enough to prevent all fear of approaching 
starvation. 
Not then, as later, was maize the principal crop of 
the farmer; 

But for roasting or boiling while yet it was tender and 
unripe, 

And for the making with green beans Succotash dur- 
ing the autumn, 

"Indian Corn" was in favor, and thought to be fitted 
for gardens. 

This, then, they gathered, and boiled, and dried by the 
fire-side, and stored up, 

Though for the corn to be ripened the time was by 
many weeks too short. 

Chiefly, however, for grain they were fain to rely up- 
on Buck-wheat, 

Which had easily come to maturity during October. 

This, when harvested, thrashed with the flail on the 
smooth level bare ground, 

Winnowed in North-wind, pounded in mortars, and 
sifted with patience, 

Furnished a flour from which they had food both pleas- 
ant and wholesome. 
Wheat and Rye were sown in the hope of a harvest 
for next year. 



42 HARTFORD 

Not to the use of Potatoes were people of that time 
accustomed ; 

But they had Turnips and Beets and Cabbage and 
Squashes and Pumpkins 

Added to Melons and Radishes, Peas, and Beans in 
abundance, — 

All of which grew and were gathered before the end 
of the season. 
Sage, Coriander, and Caraway, Dill, and Fennel 
were planted, 

Chiefly to serve as reminders of England, but also for 
Spices; 

And a few Marygolds, Pansies, and Blue-bells, served 
to embellish 

Patches of ground that were afterwards carefully closed 
in as door-yards. 
Coffee and Tea were yet unknown to these primi- 
tive settlers: 

But they sometimes used a decoction of Sage, or of 
other 

Herbs aromatic, and often of Sassafras-root for their 
drinking. 

Also they largely made use of a home-made fermented 
small-beer 

Brewed from roots and plants that were thought to be 
wholesome and healing. 

Sometimes meat was by hunting and fishing by colo- 
nists gathered ; 

Yet was oftener game from the Indians by Colonists 
purchased. 

Industry almost incredible left no time for amuse- 
ments. 

Harvests were carefully gathered, and fuel prepared 
for the winter, 

Only a few improvident ones neglecting the wood- 
pile. 
Then they appointed a day of rejoicing, of grate- 
ful Thanksgiving 



HARTFORD 43 

For the numerous manifest tokens of Heavenly favor 

Which had pursued them from first to last in their 
wilderness sojourn. 

Early assembled, they worshiped with zeal that was 
earnest and heart-felt, 

Humble and penitent, praising- the Lord for his won- 
derful goodness. 
Hooker set forth in his eloquent words their tem- 
poral blessings, — 

Dwelling with emphasis much on the quieting joyful 
prospect 

That from painful journeyings now they were finally 
resting, — 

Noting the wonderful contrast, strange and lamenta- 
bly solemn, 

When their lot was compared with the terrible fate of 
their neighbors, 

Dorchester Company, largely their friends and famil- 
iar acquaintance, 

Equal or greater in numbers than theirs, and great in 
resources, 

Who in the previous year had attempted to settle at 
Windsor. 

Trusting their goods to the treacherous round-about 
transit by water, 

All had been wrecked, and, having been forced to re- 
turn in the winter, 

Many had lost their lives by fatigue, and by cold and 
starvation. 

Also their cattle had died of neglect in the pitiless sea- 
son. 
Stone with eloquence equal, recalled to the minds 
of his hearers 

What and how great were the Spiritual blessings with 
which they were favored, — 

Making Soul-liberty chief of the boons which their 
God had vouchsafed them, — 



44 HARTFORD 

That superlative good for which they had fled from 

their old homes, 
And had endured the manifold toils and privations 

and dangers 
Of their removal from far-away lovely and beautiful 

England. 
Earnest the songs of praise sent upward from num- 
erous voices, — 
Fervent the prayers that ascended for constant Divine 

benefaction, — 
Not of themselves alone, but mindful of him who was 

absent. 
After the service, repairing direct to their several 

homesteads, 
Feasts they enjoyed that were spread with a rustic 

but generous bounty; 
And to these feasts in most cases some genial guests 

were invited. 
Yet they discovered that to their happiness something 

was wanting. 
Frosty the weather; and near was the joyful season of 

Christmas; 
Yet great sadness and gloom was every countenance 

wearing, 
Caused by uncertainty, dread, and dismal foreboding 

of evil. 
Indian murders excited alarm ; and Worthington's ab- 
sence 
Haunted them daily, and pressed down their souls 

with perpetual sorrow. 
Soon were they doomed to another surprise that 

was sudden, and greater 
Far than any preceding, and filled every person with 

wonder: 
During a session of Council the door was hastily 

opened; — 
Entered a man; and there was Worthington standing 

before them! 



HARTFORD 45 

After the first salutation, and bidding a cordial wel- 
come, 

Straight the Councilors hastened to formulate num- 
erous questions: 

Whence had the Messenger come? and why so late 
in his coming? 
From a most irksome and painful captivity with the 
wild Indians 

Lately escaping, and traversing many a league of the 
pathless 

Wilderness, weary, but thankful, he said he had come 
to their presence. 

If on the morrow the long-waiting people would all 
come together, 

He would endeavor to tell them his story of perigri- 
nations. 
Then he repaired to the home of his friends, the 
house of the Sumners; 

And the Councilors hastened to scatter the glad in- 
formation. 
Next day the people assembled immediately after 
their dinner; 

And when all had taken his hand in their joyous greet- 
ing, 

Worthington told them how he had made his sorrow- 
ful journey: 
"On that beautiful morning in June, near the Oak 
tree in Newtown 

Where I had purposed to keep an appointment at sun- 
rise with Sumner, 

Suddenly rushed from a thicket, near which I was 
thoughtlessly passing, 

Five grim Canada Indians, armed to the teeth, and all 
ready 

Either to fight or to perpetrate murder, if aught should 
provoke them. 

Seeing it perfectly useless, I made no show of resist- 
ance. 



46 HARTFORD 

Soon they had seized me, — had taken my knife and 
my pistol, and bound me. 
Three of them started at once with their prisoner, in- 
tending to lead him 

Far to the North to their homes in the desolate land of 
the Frenchman; 

And the others returned to the place of their skulking 
and hiding. 

One of them marched at my right, and one at my left 
on the journey, 

While the remaining one, vigilant, followed on closely 
behind me, 

Each of them holding a stout thong fastened securely 
about me. 

Camping at night, I was stretched on the ground, and 
my hands and my feet tied 

Either to trees in the forest, or stakes driven down 
in the clear land. 
Food rather scant was obtained every day by the 
hunt or by fishing; 

And for this purpose one of the men was detached 
with due caution 

Late in the afternoon while others rested in Camp for 
some two hours. 
On his return the game was soon parted and 
roasted and eaten; 

Then we proceeded while vestige remained of the fav- 
oring day-light, — 

Stopping at last for the night in most secret and quiet 
recesses, 

And in the morning proceeding again a long time be- 
fore sun-rise. 

I was allowed to partake of the remnants when In- 
dians had feasted, 

Making up fires, and cooking myself the small portion 
assigned me. 
Swamps and thickets avoiding, we merely went 
northward the first day; 



HARTFORD 47 

But on the second we found a small stream that flowed 
in a straight course 

Almost exactly the way we were going, as set by a 
compass. 

This then we followed to where it was emptied into a 
large stream 

Coming from westward, and flowing serenely to land 
of the morning. 

We then, turning to westward, ascended the river a 
whole day. 

Then at its bend we turned again to the northward as 
usual; 

Four days then we ascended the stream, but then 
turned to the north-west 

Up the rough valley of one of its branches on-pushing 
for one day. 
Crossing a ridge, we then came to a beautiful river 
from north-east; 

Upward the valley of this we ascended with weariness 
nine days; 

Then with much labor surmounting a ridge, we came 
to a small stream 

Winding its sinuous course through valleys and for- 
ests all gloomy. 

Following this for a week, we came near to the City 
and strong-hold 

Known as Quebec, and controlling the wonderful Riv- 
er St. Lawrence. 

Quickly we crossed the big River, and reached the 
tents of my captors. 
After a rest of two days from the tedious and weari- 
some journey 

Men of the Tribe were assembled; and I was pre- 
sented before them. 

No conversation was possible; for they knew nothing 
of English; 

And in their Indian language in turn I was equally un- 
skilled. 



48 HARTFORD 

Being then satisfied fully at last with their curious look- 
ing, 

They in grim silence retired with slow pace to their 
various wigwams. 
I was then set to my menial tasks, and required to 
bring water, — 

Fuel to cut in the forest, and bring to the lodge in 
abundance, — 

Animals killed by the hunters to bring to the Camp, 
and prepare them 

For the use of the Squaws in their vile aboriginal cook- 
ing. 
After a while I was taken for show in the streets of 
the City ; 

And I suppose I was offered for sale to fantastical 
Frenchmen. 

Still I remained, however, with worse than barbarous 
Indians ; 

But I was somewhat relieved in my sad and pitiful 
bondage 

By the discovery that these savages also were hold- 

Near me another poor Englishman groaning in similar 

thralldom. 
Shortly I met and conversed with the man, and had 

learned all his story, 
Which is too long and too sad for my present so hasty 

narration. 
Grieved I was to perceive that his health was incura- 
bly broken, 
And that the grave would shortly afford him a coveted 

refuge. 
Name of my new acquaintance I found to be Samuel 

Reyburn, — 
Genial man of some learning was he ; and much had he 

traveled ; 
Short time then was sufficient to render us intimate 

close friends. 



HARTFORD 49 

Once he had made with the hunters a journey far to 
to the north-east, 

Searching three months for the furs of the Ermine, Ot- 
ter, and Beaver ; 

And in this jaunt he had stumbled by chance upon ar- 
ticles hidden 

Long before in a hollow tree large, which had recently 
blown down. 
One of these things was a package containing a Man- 
uscript, large and 

Well preserved, but written in language that was not 
familiar. 

Thinking it likely to be of some value, this work he had 
brought back, — 

And now, fearing he never would come again to his 
birth-land, 

Gave this Treasure to me, and requested that I should 
endeavor 

Something to learn of its nature and purport, and 
what was its value. 
Few were the weeks that elapsed after this till he left 
me lamenting, 

And to the land of the blessed escaped from the hands 
of the Indians. 
More than ever confinement was irksome to me in 
his absence; 

And one day, while the Indians were gone to the chase 
of the great Moose, 

And the Squaws were absorbed in their business of 
washing and cooking, 

Quietly moving away to the place where I had con- 
cealed them, 

Taking the Package, a gun, some powder, and some 
other few things, 

Straight to the River I went, where I found some ca- 
noes made of birch-bark, 

And, seizing one, I was over and off before any sus- 
pected. 



50 HARTFORD 

Dismal and long was my route of return ; and greatly 
I suffered, 

Fearing the foe, and worn down by fatigue, and by 
hunger and thirsting, 

Dreading to find that all my friends here had been 
captured or murdered, — 

Sometimes terrified during the night by the howling of 
wild beasts, 

Scorched by the withering heat of the unclouded sun in 
the daytime, 

Stiffened by sharp cutting winds and the pestilent 
frost in the night time, 

Anxious and doubtful concerning the route in the nu- 
merous dark days, — 

Yet was I strengthened and cheered by the hope of be- 
holding these kind friends, 

And of renewing that intercourse, friendly, and pleas- 
ant, and social, 

Which I valued so highly before my horrible bond- 
age. 
Leaving the River majestic which passes Quebec, I 
ascended 

First the Valley Chaudiere, and, crossing a lofty and 
rough ridge, 

Came to the head of the same little fishing stream flow- 
ing to south-west 

Which the Indians had followed in making their vil- 
lainous home-run. 

This I descended, and followed it far in its sinuous 
long course 

Till it became by degrees a broad River, majestic and 
placid. 
After a while, however, the Valley grew slender and 
rock-bound ; 

And the great River was forced through a channel sur- 
prisingly deep-worn, 

And so narrow that seemingly one might jump quite 
across it. 



HARTFORD 51 

Having in fury escaped from the gorge, the River 
soon broadens, 

And becomes slow and majestic again in its dignified 
on-flow. 
Downward I followed it till I encountered one morn- 
ing a white man ; 

And from him I discovered that this was Connecti- 
cut River. 

He was from Windsor, and gave me some tidings of 
people at Hartford; 

Then with new courage I hurried along to the colony 
Windsor, — 

Tarried a little, was feasted, and rested one joyful night 
there, — 

Then in the morning proceeding in haste, I have safely 
arrived here 

Thankful to God for His wonderful care and protection 
vouchsafed me." 
Eagerly listened the people to Worthington's elo- 
quent story. 

Then the delighted assembly lifted their voices in con- 
cert 

In the Doxology, singing their "Praise God" loudly 
with unction. 

Presently then some Elder proposed another Thanks- 
giving ; 

And the rising vote was unanimous for the proposal. 

Then was selected a suitable day for the jubilant pur- 
pose; 

And to Sumner were tendered apologies for the 
suspicions 

Some had unjustly indulged of his spotless and inno- 
cent honor. 

Second Thanksgiving substantially followed the plan 
of the other, — 

Differing much in the details, — copying closely the 
outlines. 



52 HARTFORD 

Worthington's safety the thing for which they were 
specially grateful, — 

Seeing him present roused in their hearts a more reso- 
lute courage. 
After the service the Pastor requested the people's 
attention 

While he should publish a brief, but very important, 
announcement. 

Then he read the duly declared intention of marriage 

Of Mister Theodore Worthington and Miss Abigail 
Sumner, — 

Also of Lemuel Sumner and Spinster Talitha Mans- 
field! 

Doubly astonished, the people received the announce- 
ment with pleasure, 

And in it found of a mystery great a most perfect so- 
lution ! 
New Year's Day was approaching, and previous am- 
ple arrangement 

Made it convenient to set the duplicate marriage for 
that day. 

Thoughtful minds of the people now anxiously 
turned to their children. 

Months of the Winter were all they could have for 
pursuing their studies ; 

For in the others their strength was demanded by 
various labor. 

Soon 'twas resolved to establish a School for their care- 
ful instruction ; 

And for the Teacher they readily chose, with excellent 
judgment, 

Worthington, who was well known as a diligent Clas- 
sical Scholar; — 

Building designed both for Church and for School 
served every requirement; 

And the young people, ambitious to learn, made rapid 
advancement. 



HARTFORD 53 

Also a School for Singing was thought to be urgently 
needed ; 

And as a competent Teacher for this they chose Lem- 
uel Sumner. 
Busy as bees were the people pursuing their various 
callings, 

Yet they never neglected the calls of their blessed Re- 
ligion, 

And in their simplified worship were constant and faith- 
ful and zealous. 

Not merely this, but every one reckoned his calling 
as one part 

Making with others the sum of the service required 
by Divine Law. 
Present the New Year, people assembled in Church 
in the morning, — 

Listened to Sermon befitting the joyously festive oc- 
casion ; — 
Then an Epithalamium greeted the Brides and the 
Grooms there, 

After which, taking their places directly in front of the 
Pastor, 

Joining their hands, and pledging their faith in a most 
solemn Contract, 

Each of the pairs became Husband and Wife amid 
congratulations. 

Afterwards, such as the time and the place were 
uniquely affording, 

Spread was a feast for their friends in the now happy 
home of the Sumners. 
Later two centuries Worthington Hooker was famed 
as a Scholar, 
Noted among the sons of Connecticut for his attain- 
ments ; 
Also was Sumner a name of renown among sons of 
New England. 
Bostonites thought they were likely to prosper and 
flourish immensely 



54 HARTFORD 

Since for their clothing they'd excellent "Cotton" 
abundant imported, 

And for their fishing a dexterous "Hooker" brought 
over from home-land ; 

Also for building they'd plenty of "Stone" of fine 
quality reckoned ; 

But they saw two-thirds of these great advantages 
leave them 

In behoof of a Town in the distant Connecticut Val- 
ley! 
This was unpleasant ; and many resented the dras- 
tic secession. 

Prompt Massachusetts made haste to assert her right- 
ful dominion 

Over the Valley to which her people were rapidly 
fleeing ; 

And to govern the Colonies there she sent out a Com- 
mission ; 

But her authority was not acknowledged ; Commission 
was slighted ; 

Soon she abandoned the scheme ; and the people were 
left to pursue their 

Separate course as they chose without danger of her 
molestation. 
Nevertheless there remained some envy and emulous 
ill will 

Which was displayed in sarcastic remarks, and in fatu- 
ous falsehoods 

Tending to bring discredit upon the new region, and 
hinder 

Immigrants seeking a home from repairing directly 
to that land. 

"Rash and hot-headed, they'd rushed into war with 
the powerful Indians, 

And if not rescued by those from the Bay, had been 
utterly ruined;" — 

"All of their cattle were actually dead, or in dying 
condition ;" — 



HARTFORD 55 

"Land was so bad that they nothing could raise to 
keep from starvation ;" — 

"Hooker was visibly tired and sick of his present po- 
sition ;" — 

"If they knew where they might go, they'd quickly 
abandon the station." 
Such were the statements concerning the men of 
Connecticut Valley; 

Yet in the Spring there came to the Colonies many 
accessions, — 

People of means, and congenial tastes, who were 
cordially welcomed. 
One of the settlers at Windsor requires to be spe- 
cially mentioned 

For his remarkable service in arms, and also in oth- 
er 

Spheres of exertion and care for the juvenile Colony's 
welfare : 

This was the vigorous brave Captain Mason, or rather 
the Major, — 

Thus to distinguish this man from another one bear- 
ing the same name 

Prominent in the Colonial affairs of rugged New 
Hampshire, — 

Said to be also a distant relation of Mason of Windsor. 

Trained, as Miles Standish, to soldier's profession in 
Flanders, 

He was employed for a time to construct the defenses 
of Boston ; 

But he perceived the advantages great of Connecticut 
Valley. 
Bold and courageous, a man of affairs, and for en- 
terprise ready, 

Broad in his views, and gifted with great intellectual 
powers, — 

Born for a leader, and laboring much for Community's 
welfare, 



56 HARTFORD 

Great was the honor in which he was held ; and much 
was he valued. 

Many high Offices filled with success gave him great 
reputation, — 

Judge of the Court, and often as Deputy Governor 
serving, — 

Also commanding the troops, and sent on Embassies 
weighty. 
Pillars of Church and of Colony too were Ex-Gov- 
ernor John Haynes, — 

(Last year Governor over the Colony they had re- 
moved from), 

Still in the future too yet to be Governor where they 
were living, — 

And the good brother and Elder, revered for his worth, 
William Goodwin. 
In the allotment of land to the several settlers who 
first came 

These two men, with the Pastor, and Teacher, got 
each his two acres 

Close by the others, and bounded by little Mill River on 
south side. 

Here these wholly congenial spirits were locally well 
grouped ; 

And they were often consulting together concerning 
the best things 

For the Community they were endeavoring there to 
establish. 
Others, however, like minded, and equally constant 
and faithful, 

Occupied other positions, and they too oft were con- 
sulted. 

Found among these were Talcott, and Wyllys, and 
Stanley, and Whiting, 

Dennison, Webster, and Lord, and Wadsworth, and 
Stanton, and Hopkins, — 

Bacon, and Webb, and Olmsted, and Bull, and West- 
wood, and Wakeman, — 



HARTFORD 57 

Chaplin, and Steele, and Burchwood, and Richards, 
and Moody, and Lyman, — 

Men of repute; and some of them later were Gover- 
nors chosen. 

Westward a mountain as monument stands of Gover- 
nor Talcott. 
Much they considered the great and imminent danger 
from Pequods ; 

And they induced the Council to order the speedy en- 
rolment, 

Arming completely, and drilling, of all the men able 
to bear arms. 

This, then, claimed a share of available time through 
the winter. 

Perilous times were upon them ; and great was the 
need of wise prudence. 

Cautiously guarding their homes as they could, they 
kept sentinels posted 

During the night at several points to watch the ap- 
proaches 

Lest some treacherous foe should attempt to creep 
in and surprise them. 
Not only present and threatening danger was care- 
fully noted, 

But these Colonists studied the principles forming 
the basis, 

Just and equable, for the construction of Government 
Civil. 

Hooker declared the Source of Authority must be the 
People ; — 

That 'twas their right their Rulers to choose, and 
Laws to establish 

Which should direct the Rulers in all their endeavors 
to govern ! 
This was the germ of Liberty's seed, which has 
sprouted and grown so 

As to o'ershadow American soil from Ocean to Ocean ! 



58 HARTFORD 

Eagerly was the new doctrine received by the Pas- 
tor's associates ; 

And it was used as the chief corner-stone of the State 
which they founded. 
Not as severe was the Winter as was the terrible 
last one, 

Yet was the River completely bridged over ere Christ- 
mas with thick ice ; 

And the whole region was covered with snow to the 
depth of near two feet. 
Was the snow beautiful? That will depend upon 
what was the view-point ! 

One who relied upon milk of his cows for support of his 
children, 

And upon what could be found in the field and the 
forest for fodder, 

Keeping his fire with limbs that had fallen from 
wind-shaken old trees, 

Wearing not boots, but protecting his feet with the 
relics of low shoes, — 

Made by the drifts in front of his door a prisoner 
anxious, — 

Found the snow anything else but beautiful in its ap- 



pearance 



But his more fortunate neighbor, having a team of 
stout oxen, 

Furnished with boots for his comfort, and having a sled 
for wood-hauling, 

Having provisions in goodly supply, and some feed for 
his cattle, 

Noting the broad and level expanse of the bright-shin- 
ing meadows, 

Noting the curious forms of the drifts with sym- 
metrical whorlings, — 

Noting diversified regular forms of the wonderful 
snow-flake, — 

Calling to mind the protection afforded to wheat and 
to rye crops, 



HARTFORD 59 

Reckoned the "beautiful snow" of the winter a positive 
blessing ! 
Horses and sleighs were not then the delight of the 
youths and the maidens, 

But were reserved for more prosperous days of the 
radiant future. 
Invalid wife of the Pastor, brought in a litter from 
Newtown, 

Happily gained relief from disease, and almost re- 
covered 

Soundness of health, so that long she survived her la- 
borious husband. 

Cheerful in spirit, and confident too, she was happily 
helpful, 

Bringing new courage to hearts of her friends when 
times were depressing. 
Early in Spring the River broke up ; and the ice 
in great masses 

Floated to sea, or was thrown on the banks, which it 
cumbered a long time. 

Great was the flood ; and the meadows were very 
extensively covered, 

Gaining fertility at the expense of a great inconveni- 
ence. 
After the flood the season of fishing began to ap- 
proach, when 

Colonists hoped to lay in a supply that would last them 
the year through. 

Salmon then came to the River; and excellent Shad 
were abundant ; 

Also the Herring in number outrivaled the stars in the 
heavens. 

Perch, and Scuppaug, and Flat-fish, and Bass, and 
Black-fish, and Lampreys, 

All were expected to swarm in the River during their 
season ; 

Other kinds too would remain in the water the whole 
of the year round, • 



60 HARTFORD 

Making supply for the wants of the people of every 
condition ; 

But the attention of all was rudely diverted from fish- 
ing! 
Terrible news from the Colony Wethersfield brought 
consternation : 

Nine persons there had been murdered by savage and 
merciless Indians ; 

Also two others were seized, and into captivity carried ! 

Thus at their very doors, it seemed, was the enemy 
knocking ! 



BOOK III. 

Worthington's term as Teacher expired at the end 
of the March month ; 

Then, finding leisure, he turned to the Manuscript 
Package he brought back 

From the land of the savage, the land of fantastical 
Frenchmen. 

This he soon found to be written quite fairly in Latin 
provincial, — 

Written, it seems, by a Scotchman whose family name 
was Mac Fusson. 
Difficult task it was found to discover exactly the 
meaning 

Borne by some passages couched in a strange and bar- 
barous idiom ; 

But with patience enough, and with critical labor abun- 
dant, 

Came there at last a sufficiently perfect and useful 
Translation. 
Then were assembled almost the whole of the peo- 
ple to hear one 

Read the production distinctly with powerful reson- 
ant clear voice, 

Adding sometimes a few words to explain some dif- 
ficult passage, 

Or to express some natural feeling of pity or wonder. 

This is the Version, preserved with much care in a 
private Thesaurus : 
"When I had wandered abroad among strangers, 
like ancient Abaris, 

(Not being able, like him, to fly upon wings of an ar- 
row), 

And had come to the unfertile land of the copper-hued 
heathen, — 

While I sojourned in the Fortress Quebec, engaged in 
the Fur-Trade, 

(61) 



62 HARTFORD 

Indians often came in with their wares from the far 

distant regions, 
Varying much in their color and forms and manners 

and language, 
And in character, too, as I frequently found in my deal- 
ings. 
One day came to the market a group that were very 

much lighter 
Than the others, — so much as to draw to themselves 

some attention; 
And I observed that their language appeared to be very 

peculiar. 
Words were often unlike ; and also their modes of ex- 
pression 
Differed from those that were used by the other and 

diff rently hued Tribes. 
Buying their Furs, I formed with these men some 

little acquaintance, — 
Learning that they had come from a region far to the 

north-east ; 
And the next year I recognized them among others 

returning. 
Buying again the Furs they had brought, I made many 

inquiries 
Touching their Tribe, and the far distant place of their 

hunting and dwelling. 
These they answered so well that I was resolved 

to go with them 
On their return, and explore a region not traversed by 

white men. 
They were much pleased when this I proposed; and 

when they were ready, 
I became one of the party, marching and camping as 

they did. 
Taking the same direction, we went for some days 

near the River. 
After a while, however, the River bore off to the south- 
east, 



HARTFORD 63 

While we still continued our marching directly to 

north-east. 
Twenty-six days on the Trail which the Indians marked 

in their coming 
Brought us at last to a Lake where the Tribe was 

quietly camping. 
Welcomed with rough but sincere hospitality, I was 

much honored, — 
Kindly received, and presented with trinkets in every 

wigwam, 
And more especially that of the old and ven'rable 

Sachem. 
Soon they constructed a lodge for my use while I 

should remain there ; 
And I was presently duly installed in a regular te- 
pee. 
Then I went with the men in laborious hunting and 

fishing 
Till I had mastered the craft, and become a good hunt- 
er and fisher ; 
But I was mainly desirous of thoroughly learning the 

language 
Used by these people, in order to make it a means of 

obtaining 
Some information concerning their origin, arts, and 

traditions. 
Therefore I studied the language minutely, and labored 

with great care 
Till I could speak it correctly, and also could easily 

write it, 
Though the people themselves knew nothing of reading 

and writing. 
Finding the speech of these Indians to differ from 

that of the others 
Nearly as much as in color and features and habits they 

differed, 
I was persuaded that they must have had a different 

prime stock. 



64 HARTFORD 

Making inquiries, then, I was told that their ancestors 
had come 

Ages ago from a far distant land over sea to the east- 
ward, 

While the copper-hued Indians claimed their fathers 
had journeyed 

From a remote and indefinite opposite region to west- 
ward. 
I was also informed that the ancient Tribal Tradi- 
tions 

Were in the care of those chosen for that particular 
purpose, 

And that the oldest and wisest of these was their 
ven'rable Sachem. 

Thereupon straight I repaired to his lodge, and re- 
quested as favor 

That of the ancient home of his Tribe he would tell me 
the story ; 

And he suggested a suitable day for his careful nar- 
ration. 

Promptly I went to the home of the Chief on the 
morning appointed 

Where he was soon relating in order these wonderful 
Legends : — 
'Ancient the time when the Fathers remote of this 
peaceable White Tribe 

Were the last to escape from the vanishing shores of 
Latuna 

Sunken and whelmed in the ravening boisterous waves 
of the Ocean. 
Great was the Island Latuna, — forty days journey 
across it, — 

Mostly a level and beautiful land, and extremely pro- 
ductive, — 

Having a range of rather low mountains, not far from 
the west coast, — 

Reaching from northern cool clime to the warm and 
malarial south part. 



HARTFORD 65 

Spreading out eastward in beautiful alternate prairies 
and wood-lands, — 

Favored with lakes, and traversed by Rivers in every 
direction, — 

Fertile extremely, and always producing most bounti- 
ful harvests, — 

Seemingly favored more highly than other terrestrial 
regions, — 

Fit was the Country to nourish a great and superior 
People. 

Such was the People that dwelt in the land, and that 
prospered there largely. 
Having subdued the wild beasts of the forests ; and 
serpents of swamp-lands, — 

Hunting sometimes in the wilds, and sometimes busied 
in fishing, 

Much more often they tended their herds and their 
flocks in the pastures, — 

Planted their various crops in the fields, and gathered 
their harvests, — 

Made themselves homes in the country, and builded 
their numerous cities, — 

Never indulging in contests and furious strifes with 
their neighbors, — 

Never engaging in war except to repel an invasion, — 

Studying various Arts, and enlarging the sphere of 
their knowledge, — 

Worshiping very devoutly the great and powerful Sun- 
God 

For whose honor they many and beautiful Temples 
erected, — 

Sometimes, sending Ambassadors, forming alliance 
with nations 

Far to the East o'er the barrier wide of the flood in- 
tervening, — 

Also receiving those that were sent in return by their 
far friends. 



66 HARTFORD 

Justice was reckoned the chief of the Virtues, and so 

they were anxious 
Always to know and to do all that Justice was truly 

demanding. 
Greatly revered was Mores, the wise and benevolent 

Elder, 
Who, as Judge, had rendered the people remarkable 

service. 
Him they requested to write them a System of Laws 

for their guidance. 
This he accomplished, and made them a System of 

permanent value 
Which was received by the people at large with unan- 
imous favor. 
Living in peace, and obeying the Laws in a cheerful 

contentment, 
Greatly they prospered, increasing immensely in wealth 

and in numbers, — 
Living so long as to have it reported that they were 

immortals ! 
Average length of their lives was a hundred years at 

the lowest ; 
And sometimes a life of two hundred years was com- 
pleted. 
Rare was the need of Physicians with people so 

generally healthy; 
Yet at times was their service required ; and then it was 

ready. 
Priests of the Sun-God all were expert in curing dis- 
eases, — 
Magos, the Seer, more especially famous than others 

reported. 
Much were his services sought by the people who 

came from the out-lands ; 
Many he cured of their troublesome chronic and painful 

disorders, — 
One of these being the son of a King who reigned in the 

Orient. 



HARTFORD 67 

This Prince offered the healer magnificent honor and 
riches, 

If he would go with him to his patrial Kingdom and 
live there; 

But this offer so tempting, like many and similar oth- 
ers, 

Was not enough to allure the Augur away from his 
birth-land. 
Largely in Commerce the people were busied ; and in 
their exchanges 

Copper and Silver and Gold were used to facilitate trad- 
ing, 

Every merchant carrying Scales for weighing these 
metals ; — 

But the method was clumsy at best; and so they in- 
vented 

Other and easier means to accomplish their laudable 
purpose. 
Choosing a man of integrity proved, of skill and dis- 
cretion, 

Him they employed to reduce to a uniform standard of 
fineness 

All of these metals, and then to make regular pieces 
convenient, 

Stamping each piece to indicate fineness and weight, 
but not value, — 

Shunning in this the blunder of fools of some periods 
later 

Trying to make the Coiner's stamp to certify value ! 

These pieces then when used in exchange only had to 
be counted, — 

Saving the trouble of weighing as well as some other 
vexation. 
Houses for shelter and decent repose were con- 
structed from timber, — 

Also from brick and from stone when better were 
thought to be needed. 



68 HARTFORD 

Well were they clad in garments of cloth made from 

wool and from flax-plant. 
Upward a plaid was worn over the tunic in manner of 

Scotchmen ; — 
Downward, with pantaloons covered, they followed the 

style of the Frenchman ; — 
Then, enveloping all in the season of cold, was a mantle. 
Cov'ring the head they had season-caps ; and for their 

feet they had sandals. 
White were the people ; their features were fine, and 

especially pleasing; 
And, in the cheeks of the beautiful, roses and lilies were 

blended. 
Eyes were frequently brown, but oftener blue in their 

color ; 
Sometimes too were they black, or gray, but of lively 

expression ; — 
Hair was in general redish or brown, or flaxen, or 

golden, — 
Black in some cases, but gray or white of course in the 

aged. 
People at large chose Rulers to manage all matters 

communal, — 
Setting forth rules for their guidance in all their 

endeavors to govern. 
Rulers of Dekads, Rulers of Hektads, Chiliads also; — 
These were chosen to serve for one-year periods 

only ;— 
Rulers of Myriads and Rulers of Cities were chosen for 

two years ; — 
War was detested; but yet for defense they made 

ample provision, — 
Army consisting of all the men able for regular ser- 
vice. 
Implements used in husbandry, hunting, and fishing, 

and mine work, 
And in the crafts of the Carpenter, Black-smith, Mason, 

and Woodman, 



HARTFORD 69 

All were employed as weapons of war when necessity 
ordered. 
Officers chosen for public affairs were Commanders 
in war-time, — 

Ranking as if they were chosen at first for the War 
service only. 

Careful and regular drilling was had in all martial man- 
euvers, 

So that all might be fitted and ready for action in con- 
cert. 
Dealing in Justice with all of the various Nations 
around them, 

Seldom were any disposed to intrude upon them or 
attack them ; 

But when Homber, Alphetus, and Meno were heads of 
the Nation, 

Thousands of pirates and robbers in ships were infest- 
ing the ocean; 

And they determined to make an attack on the peace- 
loving people. 
While they were yet far off on the wave their plan 
was discovered ; 

And the whole Army was soon in the field, and pre- 
pared to receive them. 

Numbers were hidden in ambush each side of the place 
of the landing, 

As the main body was set in array on the plain just be- 
fore it. 
While the invaders were coming to land they skirm- 
ished with arrows ; 

But when the robber-fiends leaped from the boats, and 
rushed on to attack them, 

Soldiers retired with all speed to the favoring high- 
lands behind them. 

Then about facing and forming the line, they stood 
waiting and ready ; 

But the marauders spread over the plain, and were 
pillaging homesteads. 



70 HARTFORD 

Then those in ambush made haste to attack and set 

fire to the Vessels, — 
Pushing them off from the land, and cutting them loose 

from their moorings. 
Quickly the crackling flames rose aloft ; and black were 

the smoke-clouds 
Which the terrified robbers now saw to their utter con- 
fusion. 
Straight they relinquished the booty they'd taken, and 

fled to the landing 
Followed by soldiers who rushed from the hills, and, 

charging them sharply, 
Slew them with weapons, or hurried them desperate 

into the Ocean. 
Some who surrendered were treated humanely, and 

finally went back 
Each to his home in the country or region from which 

he had started. 
Trading by sea, the lands of the Scot and the Gaul 

they frequented, 
Bringing the products of Loom and of Forge for the 

Grain they exported. 
Pictures and Statues were also brought back in their 

numerous cargoes, 
As were the riches of mines of Silver, of Gold, and of 

Diamonds. 
Commerce of wine or strong drink was never allowed 

in the market ; 
And no drunkenness ever disgraced and destroyed the 

people. 
Much they glorified learning and arts, and valued in- 
struction ; 
And the proficients in Music, as well as the Poets, were 

welcomed ; — 
Orators too were held in esteem, and accorded prefer- 
ment. 
Bentis, the Architect, not being equal to builders of 

Greek-land 



HARTFORD 71 

In the perfection of finish of friezes and marvelous 
columns, 

Yet was accorded a national fame for his beautiful 
structures, 

And supervised the erection of numerous national 
buildings. 
Tohar, the Sculptor, had studied abroad a long time, 
and had gathered 

Knowledge and skill which had made in the land of his 
birth his renown great, 

So that his Statues were much in demand, and had 
brought him in great wealth ; 

And his glory still greater became by his Civil prefer- 
ment. 
Painter of pictures, and using a wonderful skill in 
his painting, 

Rimino dared to challenge comparison with the out- 
landers, 

And was never excelled by any who heeded his chal- 
lenge ; 

Yet, 'twas said that he always acknowledged some debt 
to the Grecians 

For the instruction received in their land in his wan- 
dering young days. 
Musical skill was more widely diffused, and superior 
numbers 

Labored with care and success to attain a good musical 
culture ; 

Narbo, however, was easily chief of them all, and ex- 
ceeded 

Those of his class in the masterly strength of his per- 
fect performance. 
Poets there were ; and their merits were greater than 
easily stated ; 

But there was none who was reckoned so far in advance 
of the others 

As to be counted the absolute chief of the writers in that 
style. 



72 HARTFORD 

Cone, and Davus, and Fergus, and Hermio, Madus and 
Noes, 

All were among the prominent names of the Poets in 
honor. 
Writers of History shared in renown with Poets and 
Artists, 

But were accounted as those whose gifts were less not- 
ably brilliant. 
Orators never attained to the singular eminent stand- 
ing 

Held by some men of their class with the versatile 
Greeks and the Romans, 

Chiefly because the gift of eloquent speech was so com- 
mon. 
Famous among the Shippers who traversed the bil- 
lowy Ocean, 

Trading to various lands that were lying far to the 
eastward, 

Navus the Prudent was oftener called the man of good 
fortune. 
One time he sailed to that shore of the Island which 
looked to the sun-set, 

Trading with several cities and numerous towns of that 
region. 

Tarrying there he was blown off the coast by a terrible 
east wind, — 

Driven far out on the raging, unknown, and untraveled 
Ocean. 
No one expected to see him again, or to hear from 
his vessel; — 

Others had gone the same way ; but none had returned 
with their story ; 

Yet after seasons had changed, and he was supposed 
to have perished 

Navus again returned to the coast he had left in the 
tempest 

Bringing report of a far-away unpeopled land to the 
westward. 



HARTFORD 73 

Long was his story of hardship and dangers encount- 
ered in sailing, — 

Hunger and thirst and cold and a host of unspeakable 
terrors ; — 

But he was back ; and those who were with him com- 
mended his prudence, 

Saying that only through that had they all been saved 
from destruction. 
Rapid Agalles outstripped in the Race the swiftest 
of horses ; 

And he tired them out in a famous pedestrian long 
course. 
Ortus, the Athlete, having encountered a bull in the 
forest, 

Killed with a club, and carried the animal home on his 
shoulders. 
For their amusements the people had shows, and 
music and dancing, — 

Acting of parts, and trials of strength, and races of 
foot-men, — 

Racing of horses, and chariot races, and throwing of 
discus, — 

Shooting with arrows, and hurling with spears, and 
wrestling matches ; — 

But no boxing was ever permitted with fists or with 
cestus. 
No kind of battle was ever allowed in the name of 
amusement. 

It was enacted should any two fight for a prize or a 
wager, 

They should be forced to continue the fight till one 
should be killed off ; 

Then the other should have his head broken by vigor- 
ous clubbing; 

And in one hole they both should be buried ; and noth- 
ing should point out 

Where they had found their wretched and infamous 
place of interment. 



74 HARTFORD 

Rigid enforcement of this made prize-fights very un- 

f requent ! 
Stories recounted by Bards, with interspersed music 

of great Harp, 
Often beguiled of their tedium long Winter evenings 

by fire-sides. 
Sometimes too there were rivals in music of pipe and of 

lute-strings, 
Charming the old and the young with the marvelous 

skill of their playing. 
Seasons of social delight were the feasts on occasions 

of Marriage 
Where were convened the friends of the parties uniting 

their fortunes. 
Simple and fitting the rites they observed in making 

betrothal, 
And in carrying out a solemn and permanent Contract. 
Bridegroom repaired with a number of friends to the 

home of his chosen 
And conducted with music the Bride to the home of 

her husband ; 
He then presented to all of his kindred the wife of his 

bosom. 
Cora, the beautiful maid, was betrothed to Madon of 

Bomar ; — 
Distant was Bomar From Cora's abode by full a day's 

journey. 
Nearly arrived was the day of the marriage ; and Cora 

was ready 
When a messenger said that Madon was sick of a fever 
So that he could not come for his bride in the manner 

appointed. 
Roxa, his sister, had come to request that she would go 

with her, 
Bearing at least some little relief to her suffering broth- 
er. 
Resting that night, in the morning they started with 

vigor and courage, 



HARTFORD 75 

Hoping to get through the gloomy primitive forest by 
day-light. 
Fairly they sped, but stopped to partake of refresh- 
ment at noon-time ; — 

Then very soon they came to a stream that casual rain- 
fall 

During the previous night had swollen too much for 
their passage. 

Troubled at first, they concluded to follow the little 
creek upward 

Till they should find it become sufficiently narrow for 
crossing. 
Over at last, they hastened along, but missed their 
direction, 

Presently lost all trace of their path, and were hope- 
lessly wildered, — 

Seeing no sun on account of the clouds, and roving 
at random. 

Night coming on, their hunger was scarcely appeased 
by the fragments 

Left from their dinner ; and then on the chilly, damp, 
bare ground, 

Sheltered a little by favoring trunk of a tree that had 
fallen, 

Clasping each other in sisterly arms, they slumbered to- 
gether 

Spite of the winds and the stiffening frost of a night in 
December. 
Next day was gloomy and dark ; and they'd nothing 
to eat in the morning; 

But they continued their sinuous course in the hope that 
good fortune 

Might in some way give escape from this dismal and 
terrible forest. 
Late in the day, while weary and faint and already 
despairing, 

Under a tree they found as they passed some handfuls 
of chestnuts ; 



y6 HARTFORD 

And, having molified hunger with these, they gathered 
the remnants 

For their support on the morrow, if life should remain 
unextinguished. 
Looking, however, a little ahead, they saw that rough 
steep hills 

Lay in their course ; and therefore they could not be 
going the right way, 

For in going to Bomar their path should be con- 
stantly level ; 

But they were weary ; and taking again the earth for a 
pillow, — 

Sleeping all night, they wakened refreshed somewhat in 
the morning. 

Making a meal of chestnuts, and turning away from the 
hill-range, 

Now they proceeded as well as they could in a diff'rent 
direction ; 

And in the course of the day they found an abundance 
of acorns. 

These, although bitter, would keep them, at present at 
least, from starvation ; 

And they procured as many as strength would allow 
them to carry. 
Night was approaching; but now all at once they 
were heartily gladdened 

Seeing a ruin deserted which once had been home of a 
Woodman ; 

And in this for the night they found a semblance of 
shelter. 

Cold and dark was the night ; and the angry and piti- 
less north wind 

Threatened to bury the sleepers in wreck of the ruin- 
ous building; 

But when morning appeared, the building itself was 
near buried 

Under the drifts of a blowing and shifting and ter- 
ribly deep snow. 



HARTFORD 77 

Prisoners close, and tortured by breath of the mer- 
ciless north wind, 

Still they rejoiced in the shelter by virtue of which they 
were living-, — 

Clung to each other, and baffled the cold by their 
vigorous movement. 
Wearily passed that terrible day ; and, darkness re- 
turning, 

Qose in a corner they laid themselves down for the 
horrible night-time. 

Tardily came the daylight again; and the storm was 
still raging; 

And, to increase the horror still more, grim sick- 
ness attacked them 

So that they scarcely could stand, or eat the few acorns 
remaining. 

After a while, however, the wind took a turn to the 
southward ; 

And before night the quadruple fierceness of cold was 
relenting. 
After another unspeakable night the sun rose in the 
morning ; 

But to the prisoners scarce any vestige of hope was re- 
maining ; 

Gone was their strength ; and their acorns were gone ; 
and no more could be gathered. 

Deep was the snow, forbidding retreat in any direc- 
tion; 

There they supposed their bodies would lie, when 
spirits had left them; 

And they desired a message to leave for whoever should 
find them; 

But in their absence their friends were alarmed, and 
for days had been searching 

Over the forest ; and now at the last had come hither 
with labor, 

Forcing their way through multiplied masses of hin- 
dering snow-drifts. 



78 HARTFORD 

Found were the maidens, and rescued from imminent 

certain destruction. 
After two days they arrived at the prosperous city of 

Bomar, — 
Ent'ring the house of Madon the Good an hour before 

night- fall. 
Madon, with pallor of death on his cheek, on a pillow 

was lying; 
And when he heard that Cora had come, he smiled 

for a moment 
While his thin hand he extended in evident token of 

welcome. 
Cora imprinted a kiss on his lips ; but she saw the next 

instant 
That on the lips of the dead her passionate kisses were 

falling ! 
Raising herself, and casting a look on the friends who 

were weeping, 
"Let me be buried with him" she exclaimed with a 

tone of affection, — 
Sank to the floor at once, and yielded her life at his 

bed-side ! 
Single the grave that was opened for both ; and the 

people of Bomar 
Covered it over with flowers every year in the beau- 
tiful Spring-time. 
Roxa survived the distress, and married the brother 

of Cora. 
Some who claimed magical powers had followers, 

too, and were favored. 
Oft they pretended to see in the dark, or with eyes 

closely bandaged, — 
Hidden treasures to find, or fountains of water dis- 
cover, — 
Trace the course of a thief, or tell events of the fu- 
ture, — 
Some to control the movements, and even volitions, of 

others, — 



HARTFORD 79 

Make them to hunger or thirst, or to sleep or to wake 
at their pleasure. 

Oft they assumed to cure the sick by their manipula- 
tions. 
Many were said to rise in the air by the force of 
their will-power, 

Flying wherever they chose without visible wings to 
uplift them. 
Augur Hovores, Sage, and ambassador frequently 
chosen, — 

Prudent, and learned, and friendly, and Author of 
numerous Volumes, — 

Carried, as symbol of Priesthood, an Arrow regarded 
as sacred; 

And on this he was fabled to ride in his very long jour- 
neys, 

Passing o'er land and o'er sea many days without eat- 
ing or sleeping, — 

Foretelling Earthquakes, destroying Plagues, and soon 
quieting Tempests. 
Passing these fables and others, he's known to have 
visited Athens, 

Sparta, and Delos, and also the shores of the western 
Italia, — 

Meeting Pythagoras there, and receiving some favors 
unusual, — 

Making return for which he presented the mystical Ar- 
row. 

Master of all the learning as well as the language of 
Greek-land, 

He was acknowledged the peer of her world-renowned 
Scholars and Statesmen. 
Peaceful and prosperous, fertile and pleasant, and 
peopled immensely, 

Nations beheld with a great admiration the happy La- 
tuna ; — 

Yet in a night all the happiness fled from the beautiful 
region 



80 HARTFORD 

Shaken and wrecked by the horrible force of a violent 
earthquake. 
Houses unnumbered were thrown to the ground; 
and people were buried 

Under the ruins of Cities and Towns all over the 
country ! 
After that night a new island appeared some miles 
to the eastward ; 

But in short time this island again was submerged ; and 
a huge wave 

Burst unexpected on low-lying shores of afflicted La- 
tuna. 

Thousands were drowned in the flood; but many un- 
happy survivors 

Fled to the hills, and found there safety from present 
destruction. 

Seeing their wealth, their friends and their neighbors 
o'erwhelmed in the waters, 

Some of them wished that they too had shared in the 
fate of their loved ones. 
Land thus ingulfed by the sea remained in Neptune's 
possession ; 

But the people on high lands supposed they were free 
from such danger. 

Plowing and sowing and reaping, and plying their 
other vocations, 

Still they were hopeful of life and prosperous days in 
the future. 
Thrice had the harvests been gathered, and Winter 
was coming as usual, 

When they discovered that even the permanent hills 
were subsiding, — 

Some of them being already o'ertopped by the incom- 
ing waters ! 
Filled with dismay, they believed they were doomed 
to the fate of the low-lands ; 

And they began to depart from the hard-fated coun- 
try by thousands. 



HARTFORD 81 

Many, however, still dared to remain, and to watch the 

subsidance, — 
Trusting that mountains at least would be spared by 

omnivorous Ocean. 
Some too remained from the lack of the requisite means 

for removing. 
Steadily now the Island went down ; and steadily 

dwindled the people 
Till there was left a disconsolate, pitiful few of heart- 
broken 
Victims on top of the ridge of the western subsiding 

low mountains. 
Here they constructed a raft and some boats, and 

awaited the waters. 
Soon these were present, when, mounting the raft, 

and filling the small boats, 
Taking whatever provisions they'd painfully managed 

to gather, 
Trusting themselves to the winds and the waves, and 

the help of the Great Gods, 
Outward they pushed from the rock as 'twas finally 

totally covered ! 
Floating at random, they seemed for a day to remain 

withou moving; 
But on the next the furious wind which they specially 

dreaded, 
Coming from eastward, drove them away in despair 

and confusion 
Towards the proverbial region of manifold darkness 

and danger. 
Long they were driven, and suffered extremes in 

their perilous journey, 
But by taking the boats on board of the raft they pre- 
served them; 
And at the last the raft was aground on a shore that was 

vacant. 
Landing then here, they found that the country 

abounded in wild game ; 



82 HARTFORD 

And there were treasures of fish in the numerous 

Lakes and the Rivers. 
Hence they concluded to settle down here, at least for a 

short time, 
While they should try to discover some happier region 

more inland. 
Cold was the climate ; and rough was the tedious 

Winter that followed ; 
And in the Spring they resolved to remove to some 

region more southward. 
Finding the River which comes so far from the promis- 
ing southwest, 
Upward they followed the course of the stream, and 

made frequent encampments 
Till they had gone some thirty days' journey beyond 

the vast high rock 
Where is now the great Fortress, and market for In- 
dian traders. 
There they found lands that were fertile, and other 

alluring conditions 
Such that they thought it was best their wandering 

life to relinquish. 
Here then they lived, and increased, and were specially 

prospered in fortune, — 
Giving their juvenile State the patrial name New 

Latuna. 
Long they had dwelt in security there when powerful 

Red-men, 
Coming from regions that lay still further to south and 

to westward, 
Struck them in fury, and shortly had almost entirely 

destroyed them ! 
Feeble the remnant that, driven away, turned back to 

the north-east. 
Still driven onward by constant attacks of the fu- 
rious Red-men, 
Scarcely a handful returned to the place where their 

ancestors landed. 



HARTFORD 83 

Here they have lived ; and we, their descendants, are 
living and dying!' 
Such the traditions that came to my ears, and that 
filled me with wonder. 

Here without shadow of doubt were a Tribe of descend- 
ants remaining 

Of that great Hyperborean people so famous in old 
time ; 

For, comparing the Legends with Histories written by 
Greek men, 

No one can fail to perceive that Ambassador-Author 
Hovores 

Must be the great Hyperborean Author and States- 
man Abaris. 
Leaving the Sachem, I went to my lodge and began 
the translation, 

Putting the Indian Legends into presentable Latin. 

Scarce had I finished the task when I heard that the 
Sachem was dying ; 

And he was scarce in his grave when sickness invaded 
the people, — 

New and malignant, and proving not only distressing 
but fatal ; — 

Half of them died in a month ; and the others were 
feeble and drooping. 
Later I buried the last of the Tribe, and was left 
to my own care. 

Now I am feeling a terrible pain ; and my hand is un- 
steady ; 

Doubtless I'm sick ; and perhaps I am actually dying 
alone here, — 

None to lament and no one to bury Mac Fusson of Glen 
Mar." 
Listened the people with mingled emotions of doubt 
and of wonder 

Added to those of genuine sorrow and tender compas- 
sion. J 



84 HARTFORD 

Much they applauded the Reader, and much the faith- 
ful Translator. 

Then they retired to their homes, and discussed the 
late Indian murders. 



BOOK IV. 

Sachem and Tribe had been driven from lands upon 
which they were living 

By the more powerful, covetous, quarrelsome Tribe of 
the Pequods. 
Fugitives, still maintaining their right to the land of 
their fathers, 

Quickly they turned to the promising friendship of 
neighboring English, — 

Asking them kindly to come and reside in that beauti- 
ful Valley — 

Offering many and weighty inducements to action of 
that kind. 
Colonists, learning the state of the case, felt perfectly 
certain 

That there was right on the side of their cordial gen- 
erous new friends 

While there was wrong on the side of the bloody and 
treacherous Pequods. 

Hence they determined to make an attempt to get homes 
in the Valley, — 

Buying the land from those they regarded as owners 
in just right, — 

Hoping to mollify threatening barbarous foes by their 
kindness. 

Vain was this hope ; for deep was the purpose and 
plot of the Pequods 

Horrible vengeance to take by a sudden and utter de- 
struction. 
Formerly coming from westward, they conquered the 
previous dwellers, 

Making them Subjects, or driving them out from the 
lands of their fathers, — 

Seizing the goodliest places for hunting and fishing and 
seeding. 

(85) 



86 HARTFORD 

Widely they ruled over Tribes that then lived in the 

south of New England, — 
Even extending their sway to some parts of the distant 

Long Island, — 
Making, wherever 'twas heard, their name to be count- 
ed a terror. 
They from the first to the English incomers were bit- 
terly hostile, 
And were determined in some way to compass their 

extermination. 
Bent upon this, they endeavored to form an extensive 

alliance, — 
Hoping to use the whole power of the Indians to drive 

out the pale-face. 
In the pursuit of this scheme they had sent to the 

tribe Narragansett 
Chosen Ambassadors, — able and crafty and eloquent 

speakers, — 
Who should present to the Chiefs the most powerfully 

cogent of reasons 
Why they should join in the horrid conspiracy rapidly 

forming. 
Williams, the banished, at Providence, sent to the 

people of Boston 
News of the Indian plot ; and being requested, in sore 

need, 
Used his endeavors with skill and success to baffle the 

Pequods, — 
Making it seem as if God had designed through his 

pitiful exile 
Greatly to bless his mistaken and stupidily envious 

brethren 
Just as the Patriarch Joseph, when stupidly banished to 

Egypt, 
Was to his brethren the means of saving their lives 

from destruction. 
Dark was the chilly tempestuous day when the pio- 
neer started 



HARTFORD 87 

All by himself in a rickety boat, on his perilous jour- 
ney 

Down the rough River and dangerous Bay, some thirty 
miles rowing, 

To the abode of the powerful Chief on whom all was 
dependent. 
Reaching the home of Canonicus, quickly he found 
that already 

Pequod Ambassadors were with the Sachem in close 
consultation ; 

And for three days Williams faced them in Council, re- 
butting their crafty 

Pleas, and dissuading the Chief from their urgently 
proffered alliance ; — 

Three days too was exposed to their murderous hatch- 
ets and long knives 

Which he had reason to fear would be turned upon him 
in their vengeance. 
Thwarted at last, the ambassadors went to their peo- 
ple in anger ; 

Williams, in safety restored to his home and his faithful 
companions, 

Grateful, gave thanks for the manifest blessing of God 
on his efforts, 

And in like manner continued his service unique for 
the English. 
Sassacus, crafty and subtle, the Chief of the Tribe 
of the Pequods, 

Though he had been unsuccessful in forming his pur- 
posed alliance, 

Yet was determined his ultimate end by some means to 
accomplish. 

Tribes that were subject to him were incited to mur- 
der the English 

When and wherever they found them alone, or not 
ready for fighting. 

He was blood-guilty, though often by artifice shunning 
detection. 



88 HARTFORD 

Indian methods were cruel and cowardly, hateful and 
horrid. 

Lurking in ambush, they sought to surprise their vic- 
tims unthinking 

While they were busy in peaceful affairs, or were 
quietly sleeping, — 

Making of children, of women, and men, indiscrimin- 
ate slaughter. 

Finding a home some little removed from all shelter- 
ing neighbors, 

Stealthily coming in darkness of night, they would burn 
down the house, and 

Massacre all who attempted escape from the horrible 
burning. 
Tomahawks crashed through the skulls ; and scalps 
were their coveted trophies ; — 

Infants were dashed on the rocks or the trees in the 
sight of their mothers ; — 

Yet 'twas a boon to meet a quick death at the hands of 
the fiends who 

Often in torture displayed a rough ingenuity monstrous. 
Even the dead they would mangle and mutilate 
shamefully oft-times. 

Bold, and defiantly wearing the clothes of the victims 
they'd murdered, 

Impudent messages often they sent to the men in the 
Fortress, 

Saying that they could kill Englishmen off like mos- 
quitoes in Summer. 

Such were the things which the English endured at the 
hands of the Pequods. 
Lieutenant Gardiner scarcely had finished the For- 
tress at Saybrook 

When he was quarantined there by a practical siege by 
the Indians. 

Some of his men, sent out for supplies, were murdered 
and mangled ; 



HARTFORD 89 

Others were captured, and made to endure the most 
horrible tortures ; 

Gard'ner himself, going out with some men, was seri- 
ously wounded. 
Mason with twenty good men was sent to Gard'ner 
at Saybrook ; 

And while he stayed the neighboring Indians were pru- 
dently quiet; 

But in the region above they continued their hostile in- 
cursions. 

Soon Captain Underhill also was sent by the Council 
at Boston 

Bringing to Saybrook as many for help as Mason had 
brought there. 
Blood-thirsty Pequods, in number a hundred, with 
some other Indians, 

Made an attack in the Indian style on the Wethersfield 
people. 
Lying in ambush, they rushed on the English while 
working their corn-fields, — 

Killing in malice a woman, a child, seven men, and 
some cattle, 

And as a crown of their infamy, carried two girls away 
captives. 
Lives of these girls were saved, it is said, by the wife 
of a Sachem; 

And they were rescued from bondage by Dutch of the 
Island Manhattan. 

Afterwards, left at the Fort, they were carefully ques- 
tioned by Mason, 

Who from them learned some facts in regard to the 
arms of the Pequods. 

Kindness shown to the captives by wife of the Sachem 
was counted 

Much in her favor when afterwards she was a captive 
in Boston. 
Mason, perceiving the terrible danger that threatened 
his own home, 



90 HARTFORD 

Hastened to make with his men a quick march up the 

River to Windsor, — 
Underhill taking his place in defence of the Fortress at 

Saybrook. 
Opening Spring, the season of hope, and of joyful 

seeding, 
Brought to Connecticut Valley not joy, but a dismal 

foreboding. 
Deep was the gloom which pervaded and darkened the 

whole of the region 
Even in spite of the brilliant rays of the sun in his 

glory,— 
Even in spite of the woods and the meadows in beau- 
tiful verdure, — 
Even in spite of the loveliest flowers with their delicate 

odors, — 
Even in spite of the birds with their music and gorgeous 

plumage ! 
Time for the planting of corn had arrived ; but the corn 

was not planted ! 
Dangerous work was the planting; and small was the 

hope of a harvest ; 
Nothing could drive from the mind the dread of the rav- 
aging Pequod ! 
Nothing but war, it seemed, could meet the imminent 

danger. 
May-day came ; and a General Court was assembled 

at Hartford ; 
And the first thing that was done was declaring of war 

with the Pequod. 
Ninety men was the force they levied at once for the 

service, — 
This being nearly one-half of the previous total enrol- 
ment ; — 
Forty-two men was the quota required from the Colony 

Hartford ; — 
Thirty from Windsor were summoned, — the balance 

from Wethersfield coming. 



HARTFORD 91 

Mason was made the Commander of all these sep- 
arate quotas ; 

Ample supplies of provisions were likewise presently 
levied ; 

Samuel Stone was selected to go with the Army as 
Chaplain ; 

Uncas, the Sachem, with seventy Mohegans, in league 
with the English, 

Came to take part in the movement against the enemy 
common. 
Scarcely nine days had elapsed when the Army was 
ready for marching. 

All were embarked, and began to descend the River to- 
gether ; 

But they were hindered by shoalness of water ; and 
Vessels were grounded, 

Making delay too tedious and vexing for Indian pa- 
tience. 

Uncas obtained permission to land with his men, and 
to march down, 

Joining the others again on arriving at Colony Say- 
brook. 
After a week the vessels arrived at the mouth of the 
River ; 

And it was found the Mohegans had fought with a 
party of Pequods, 

Killing a number, and capturing one of the insolent 
foemen, — 

One more completely a treacherous villain than most 
of his nation. 

Him in their Indian fashion they cruelly tortured for 
some time 

Till Captain Underhill ended his miserable life with a 
pistol. 
Waiting two days at the Fortress at Saybrook, when 
favoring wind came 

All were prepared to go on and accomplish their terrible 
mission. 



92 HARTFORD 

Underhill offered to go, and his men, if they were per- 
mitted ; 

And the Commander, accepting their generous offer 
with pleasure, 

Sent twenty men of his own force back to assist as a 
home-guard. 

Onward at last the Army proceeded with resolute pur- 
pose. 
Mason had orders to land at the river on which is 
New London, — 

That is — to land in the very heart of the enemy's coun- 
try;— 

But for good reasons he thought it not best to follow 
instructions ; 

And, though dissenting at first, the others soon held this 
opinion. 
Passing the Pequods, they went to the shore of the 
Bay Narragansett, 

Where they conferred with the Chiefs of that Tribe ; 
and a force of two hundred 

Warriors joined them to make an attack on the Tribe 
which they hated. 

Leaving some men with the Vessels to bring them back 
quickly by water, 

Early the Army set out to march over land to the Pe- 
quods. 
Twenty miles covered, they came to a Fort of Ne- 
hantics at night-fall ; 

And to prevent any sending of news to the enemy's 
quarters, 

None were permitted to go from the Fort while the 
Army remained there. 

Next day, marching twelve miles, they came to the 
Pawcatuck fording, 

And, after resting, proceeded three miles to a very large 
corn-field. 

This they supposed to imply that the enemy's Fort must 
be near them. 



HARTFORD 93 

Uncas informed them that two strong Forts were 

held by the foemen, — 
One some five miles farther away from them than the 

other. 
Greatly exhausted by labor of marching, by heat and 

privations, 
They with reluctance prepared to attack the nearer 

Fort only, — 
Leaving the other for subsequent closer and special 

attention. 
Guided by Uncas, they marched very cautiously half 

of the clear night, — 
Making their Camp for a two-hours sleep on a spot 

well protected, 
Having a swamp in the rear, and high rocks on the 

right and the left hand, 
Distant two miles from the enemy's Fort on the shore of 

the Mystic. 
Scouts in advance could hear the noisy rejoicing and 

yelling 
Those in the Fort kept up in their triumph till long af- 
ter midnight, — 
Thinking the English had passed them because they had 

feared to attack them. 
Long before day-light the English by moonlight were 

ready for marching. 
Coming in sight of the Fort, the Indian allies proved 

cowards, — 
Slinking to rear, and leaving the English to do all the 

fighting. 
Not very large or strong was the Fortress, much 

dreaded when far off, — 
Merely a common Stockade, inclosing two acres, or 

some less, — 
Having within it some seventy light and combustible 

wigwams ; — 
Two sally-ports were closed during night with logs and 

with bushes. 



94 HARTFORD 

Nearing the foe unperceived, and making two parts 
of their forces, 

Mason with one part easily opened and entered the first 
port 

Just as Underhill likewise opened and entered the oth- 
er. 
Soon were the wigwams all in a flame ; and the 
slaughter proceeded ! 

Caught by the foe in the midst of their sleep, in a mer- 
ciless death-grip, 

Horrible vengeance was wrought ; and six hundred sav- 
ages died there ! 
Burnt was the Fortress ; and burnt were the more 
than seventy wigwams 

Which it inclosed as if for defence, but for real 
destruction. 

Partially burnt were the bodies of yesterday's clamor- 
ous foemen ; — 

Horrid the sight that offended the eyes of their friends 
in the morning 

Who from the other Fort came too late to take part in 
the battle! 

Three times a hundred, with impotent rage they be- 
held the grim ruins ; 

Then to attack the retiring victors they rushed in their 
fury. 

Bootless, however, their furious rage ; and nothing 
they gained so; — 

Harmless, their arrows fell short ; and none of them 
dared to come nearer. 
While it was burning the English surrounded the 
Fort at safe distance ; — 

Farther away the valiant Allies formed a great circle, — 

Thus intercepting the flight of some fugitives who were 
escaping. 

Seven escaped and carried the news of the battle to west 
Fort; 



HARTFORD 95 

Seven were captured, and kept for some time in the 
hands of the English. 
Two of the English were certainly killed ; and twenty 
were wounded. 

Mason is said at one time to have been in imminent 
peril. 

One of the Indians at very close range had directed 
an arrow, 

And was just at the point of letting it fly at the Cap- 
tain 

When the string of the bow was cut by Orderly Da- 
vis ! 
Scarcely two miles from their principal river the 
harrassing Pequods 

Gave up the fight in despair of success, and turned sul- 
lenly backward. 

Mason in transport discovered his Transports ent'ring 
the Harbor! 
Coming on board, he found Captain Patrick of Bos- 
ton awaiting, 

Bringing men ready for vigorous service, and number- 
ing forty. 
Mason with twenty, and Patrick with forty men, 
marched over dry land, 

Sending the others with wounded and prisoners by 
water to Saybrook. 
Uncas went up with his men by the river to what is 
now Norwich. 

Mason at Saybrook disposed of his faithful and true 
Narragansetts, — 

Then took his men to their homes up the River in joy- 
ful triumph ! 
Now was the radiant light to Connecticut Valley re- 
turning ; 

Sad was the May; but now it was June in Windsor 
and Hartford. 

One little month had brought wonderful change in the 
state of the Country. 



96 HARTFORD 

Neither the sun in his glory was veiled and obscured in 

a night-gloom, 
Nor was the beautiful verdure of grass and of foliage 

blackened, — 
Nor were the flowers with their wealth of ravishing 

colors and fragrance, 
Blooming in all their magical grace and their loveliness, 

frosted, — 
Nor were the birds with their music and gorgeous 

plumage repulsive. 
Now in the fields the farmer could labor in safety 

and much hope ; 
Now in their homes the people could rest not fearful 

of slaughter. 
Greatly the dwellers were moved to rejoicing and ac- 
tions of gladness ; 
Filled were the Churches with worshipers grateful and 

earnestly thankful, 
Praising the Lord for His goodness and mercy and 

wonderful favor ; 
Honors and thanks were bestowed upon those who had 

served in the Army, — 
Chiefly upon the Commander ; the gallant and valorous 

Mason. 
Hooker, the Pastor at Hartford, commended the 

work of the Army, 
Publicly giving them honor and thanks in an eloquent 

sermon. 
Nature put on her choicest finery to grace the occasion ; 
And the whole Valley seemed blest as a modernized 

Garden of Eden. 
Yet was the War not finished, but only its action sus- 
pended. 
Sassacus, holding one Fort, escaped the slaughter 

at Mystic; 
And, with the part of his Tribe remaining, concluded 

to go forth, 



HARTFORD 97 

Making sojourn for a time with the Dutch on the 
banks of the Hudson. 

Burning their homes, and destroying their corn, they 
started then westward, 

And as they crossed Connecticut River, not much above 
Saybrook, 

Murdered three men whom they found in a little boat 
quietly sailing. 
This being known, 'twas determined to follow them 
up on their journey. 

Underhill with his Company having gone homeward to 
Boston, 

Stoughton with six score men was sent on a new ex- 
pedition ; 

And from Connecticut Mason was sent with forty to 
join him, — 

Stoughton "Commander in Chief," but Mason the real 
Commander. 
Still it was June when the forces began the pursuit of 
the Pequods, 

Sailing along by the northern shore up the Sound of 
Long Island. 

Uncas with some of his Tribe also followed by land 
near the Vessels, 

Scouring the country ; and finding a Sachem there 
lurking, they caught him, 

Cut off his head, and made it near harbor of Guilford, 
a land-mark. 
Passing the site of New Haven, they found an en- 
campment of Pequods 

Hid in a very bad swamp, and not at all easy of access. 

This the Army attacked ; and after some resolute fight- 
ing 

Forced the surrender of all the old men, women, and 
children. 

Twenty were killed in the battle ; and seventy warriors 
escaping 



98 HARTFORD 

Followed their Chiefs, who had fled just before to the 

country of Mohawks. 
There not as Friends in distress, as they hoped, but as 

enemies treated, 
Sassacus died, and his brother, and ten other principal 

Sachems. 
Scalps of these were sent to the English at Hartford 

and Boston. 
Stoughton, returning to Boston, reported the loss of 

but one man 
Who from disease, and not from the enemy's weapons, 

had perished. 
Still there was left a scattering remnant of fugitive 

Pequods 
Who at the last surrendered themselves to the English 

as Vassals, 
And were ingrafted into the neighboring Tribes of the 

Red-men. 
Otherwise captives were slaves, and distributed over 

the Country. 
Poorly, however, they served, and soon died, ran away, 

or were set free. 
Sullen and insubordinate, some were thought dangerous 

servants ; — 
Hence there were fifteen boys and two girls sold off to 

Bermuda. 
Fate of them there is not chronicled duly by negligent 

writers ; — 
Yet is our wonderful "modern research" no longer at 

fault here; 
And by its singular aid we thus fill up the lacuna ; 
Doris and Lolo were names of the two girls sen- 
tenced to exile ; 
And of the boys were Neco and Madoc the names of 

the oldest ; 
Doris and Neco were children of Sachems, betrothed 

in their childhood ; 



HARTFORD 99 

Lolo and Madoc were also betrothed, but when they 
were older. 
Reaching Bermuda the captives were sold to ten dif- 
ferent masters, 
And very soon were removed to their several distant 

Plantations. 
Doris and Neco were bought by one man, and made 

servants of house-work; 
Lolo and Madoc were separate far, and were driven to 

field-work, 
As in the sequel were all of the others in various places. 
Some of the boys succumbed to the climate, and died 
of diseases ; — 
Some were heart-broken in view of their fate, and soon 

perished from grieving; 
Others, worn out, were soon killed by their labor and 

various hardships ; 
Some ran away, and were hunted and shot like ravenous 
wild beasts. 
Doris and Neco were treated at first with something 
of kindness ; — 
Living as husband and wife, they helped and encour- 
aged each other; 
And for a while they even rejoiced at the birth of a 

Daughter. 
Not very long, however, this favoring fortune con- 
tinued. 
Sick was their merciful Master; and soon they were 

told he was dying. 
Presently then the estate, including the Slaves and the 

cattle, 
Passed to the hands of another whom every one knew 

as a tyrant. 
Doris soon died; and Neco was left alone with his 
daughter. 
Neco was patient, and suffered abuse without show 
of resenting; 



ioo HARTFORD 

But on a day when he saw his daughter knocked down 

by the tyrant, 
Seizing an ax, he cleft open his skull on the spur of the 

moment, 
And was soon taken and hurried to torture by tyrant's 

subalterns. 
Then the poor daughter was shamefully used, but had 

none to protect her. 
Madoc at first made careful research, and discovered 

his Lolo; 
Then he applied himself closely to work in behalf of his 

master, 
But was abused, and treated with scorn and contempt 

past enduring. 
Therefore he sought out a place in a swamp convenient 

for hiding, — 
Far from the home of his master, and never approached 

by the white men. 
Thither he made his escape in the night, and lay in 

concealment. 
Having a hatchet and knife, he could make his own 

bows and his arrows ; 
And with these he could furnish himself with pro- 
visions abundant, — 
Sometimes fishing, and sometimes foraging nightly in 

cornfields. 
Stealthily meeting with Lolo, he kept her informed of 

his movements ; 
And a long time in this way he continued to live as a 

hermit. 
Finally Lolo determined, escaping her keepers, to join 

him; 
And in the rudest of huts in the swamp they reveled in 

Freedom. 
Here too was born to the couple a son in this sylvan re- 
tirement, — 
Bringing them comfort, but making them also un- 
speakably anxious. 



HARTFORD 101 

These were conditions of life so very exceedingly 

fearful 
They had no hope of maintaining their dismal conceal- 
ment much longer; 
Yet was the end more nearly approaching than they 

had suspected. 
Madoc one night returned to the lodge in a violent 

fever ; 
And in three days, spite of watching and care, was 

Lolo a widow ! 
Then Lolo buried her dead in the depth of the swamp 

with her own hands, — 
Burned down the lodge, and, taking her infant, returned 

to her master. 
There she continued to toil while her infant was 

growing to manhood, — 
Teaching him all the Traditions she'd learned from her 

husband and father, — 
Teaching him where she had formerly lived, and the 

fate of her Nation, — 
Bidding him take for a wife the daughter of Neco and 

Doris, — 
Bidding him seek for some chance to return to the 

land of his kindred. 
Such a chance came after Lolo had ended her life of 

sad fortune. 
Hannum, her son, and his wife, the last of their race in 

the Islands, 
Finally made their escape, and returned to the land of 

the Pequods. 
There they found some of their kin who remembered 

their fathers and mothers ; — 
There they continued to live, and were treated with 

kindness and favor ; — 
There at the last they were buried ; and relics, if any, 

remaining 
Rest on a hill of Mohegan in sight of the City New 

London ! 



102 HARTFORD 

Mason returned to Windsor, and then was Com- 
mander at Saybrook, — 

Raised, for his many good services done, to the rank 
of a Major, — 

And was, still later, a principal founder of Colony Nor- 
wich. 

Granted, as part of his pay, the Island in harbor of 
Mystic 

Has until now remained in the hands of his lineal 
descendants. 
Closed was the war ; and the Colonists rested in 
peace with the Indians, — 

Peace that, with jubilant smile, for forty years was un- 
broken. 
During the war provisions were scarce ; and their 
price was increasing; 

And in the following winter the people encountered a 
famine. 

Terribly hard was the season ; and many succumbed to 
its rigor ; 

Most of the cattle were frozen and starved; and all 
faces were gloomy; 

But in the spring there came a supply down the River 
from Deerfield, — 

Indians coming with fifty canoes to Windsor and Hart- 
ford, — 

All of them laden with corn that was then so especially 
needed. 
Also a ship from Boston arrived with provisions 
abundant, — 

Bringing, besides, more people to aid in upbuilding 
the new town. 

These were a company goodly and strong, and headed 
by Hopkins, — 

Him who was specially honored, and frequently Gover- 
nor chosen. 

Grateful, the people gave thanks to the Lord for his 
wonderful goodness, — 



HARTFORD 103 

Praising th' almighty Creator, whose mercy endureth 
forever ! 
Quietly, after the war, the Gen'ral Court, meeting at 
Hartford, 

Drafted a Document that was unique in political story ; 

And in the Winter ensuing the thing was adopted in due 
form 

As the prime Law of the Colony's Code, — a State 
Constitution ! 
None had existed before ; but this has been followed 
by many. 

All the States of the Union, and even the Union itself 
too, 

Have in the sequel adopted the form and the soul of this 
model. 
Hooker undoubtedly furnished the central and prin- 
cipal doctrine, — 

That the People have right to prescribe and establish 
their own Laws, 

And to require that the Magistrates rule in accordance 
with those Laws ! 

Here was the tomb of "divine right;" and here was 
"prerogative's" grave-yard ! 

This was the basis on which has been founded Ameri- 
can Freedom. 
Taught by the war a lesson of prudence, men turned 
their attention 

Earnestly now to a scheme of Colonial Cooperation. 

Hooker had urged this matter in vain a half-dozen years 
through ; 

But at the last he accomplished his laudable purpose 
completely. 
Hartford and Windsor and Wethersfield, usually act- 
ing together, 

Came to be reckoned and called the Connecticut Colony 
simply. 

Colony Bay, and Plymouth, New Haven, and Hart- 
ford, united 



104 HARTFORD 

For the defense, security, peace, and repose of the peo- 
ple; 

Agawam, claimed by the Bay, by Connecticut duly 
was yielded. 

(Now it rejoices in the euphonious title of Springfield). 
Long were they hindered while much they debated 
the troublesome question : 

"What is the Court of final appeal in all matters per- 
plexing?" 

"Surely the people's directors" said Boston with Win- 
throp the leader; 

"Rather the people themselves" said Hartford with 
Hooker the thinker ! 

Fully to this decision the Country has come in its great- 
ness. 

This was a view which largely controlled the people at 
Newtown, — 

Leading them on to make the attempt to settle at Hart- 
ford. 
Forty years lasted the Compact, and rendered an ex- 
cellent service. 

(Little Rhode Island, left out in the cold, was rejected 
unfairly) ! 

This was precursor and model of greater Colonial 
Union 

Afterwards formed to resist the tyrannic oppressions of 
England. 

Efforts of Hooker and Haynes and Winthrop, assisted 
by others, 

Greatly were quickened by acts of the Dutch, and the 
war in the Home-land. 
Hartford was greatly perturbed by the questions re- 
lating to Churches, 

Which were most ably discussed in the numerous vol- 
umes by Hooker ; 

But even these were o'ershadowed at length by a ter- 
rible sickness 



HARTFORD 105 

Falling alike upon English and French and Dutch and 

the Indians. 
Hooker, the well-beloved Pastor at Hartford, was prin- 
cipal victim ; 
And this loss, of itself, involved the Country in mourn- 
ing. 
Hartford lamented with grief that was real and hope- 
less and lasting! 
Hartford began with a building designed for a 
Church and a School-house ; — 
Hartford in growing has multiplied houses for Schools 

and for Churches. 
Cultured Religion from first to the last has furnished 

the motive 
Which has impelled the most of the people to definite 
action. 
Good Education has been the desire and the hope of 
the prudent 
Who have established and fostered the various Schools 

and the College ; 
And the results of their efforts have shown that they 

labored discretely. 
Much has the City been honored and blest by the work 

of her Teachers. 
Science has opened the way to the Arts, and to rational 

living. 
Always a home of the Arts, the City has treated them 

fairly, 
And has been richly repaid on their part for her moth- 
erly kindness. 
Music was first of Fine Arts to receive any special 
attention, 
And has continued secure in the favor of most of the 

people. 
Part of the worship in Churches, it always is studied 

and practised 
Much for the purpose of using in public and private de- 
votion ; — 



106 HARTFORD 

Having a natural charm for the ears of all innocent chil- 
dren, 

Rightly it fills a prominent place in the home and the 
day-school ; 

Having a charm for the old and the young that grows 
with their culture, 

Music is fitly a helper in almost every amusement ; — 

Used with effect in all martial parades, and even in bat- 
tle, 

Music, in peace and in war, is an indispensable mo- 
tor. 

Hence almost every one some musical instrument uses. 
Purring Accordeons mostly have passed, and Melo- 
deons also, — 

Yielding their places of glory to modern Pianos and 
Organs ; 

But the old instruments still to be heard are too many 
to mention. 

Music, the Art of the people, not brought to perfection 
by any, 

Has in the City been followed to more than the usual 
attainment. 
Also the Arts of Design have been studied and prac- 
tised in earnest. 

Few are the Sculptors, indeed ; but more have made 
Drawing and Painting 

Means of expressing in visible forms the great beauty 
within them. 

Not with ambition to rival the fame of Athenian genius, 

But for the love of Art in itself have many thus la- 
bored. 
Numerous Poets here also have written their Verses 
immortal ; 

Orators too, more numerous still, have arisen in Hart- 
ford, — 

Making the place for earnest and genuine Eloquence 
famous ; — 



HARTFORD 107 

But to Industrial Arts has been turned the most con- 
stant attention, — 

Making in these a success that is brilliant and wonder- 
ful truly. 
Countless Inventions of things that are useful in 
peace, and in war too, 

Indicate constantly active and laudably vigorous brain- 
power. 

This too is shown in historic research among ven'ra- 
ble Records, 

And in original grappling with intricate questions of 
Science, 

Added to more than the average attainments in all the 
Professions. 

Medical Art, unique in itself, has made rapid advance- 
ment, 

Proving a boon to many a weary and suffering patient. 
People of Hartford have been conspicuous lovers of 
Freedom. 

Freedom at first was the object they sought in their 
painful removing; 

Later they showed their spirit when Andros demanded 
the Charter; 

And they've remembered with pride the Charter pre- 
served in the Oak-tree. 
Long was the Tree preserved as an honored and sa- 
cred memento; 

And when it fell by the force of the wind, all its frag- 
ments were gathered, 

Stored up as treasures, and scattered to uttermost ends 
of the Nation. 
Afterwards when in grim Slavery's days fair Free- 
dom was threatened, 

Quickly they sent relief to the suffering people of 
Kansas ; — 

Then, when the bloody rebellion arose to dissever the 
Nation, — 



108 HARTFORD 

All for the sake of destroying every vestige of Free- 
dom, — 

Hartford sent forth to assist in the struggle for na- 
tional Union 

Hundreds of brave and generous men, her comeliest 
children, 

Many of whom went down in the strife, and yielded 
their life-blood 

Nobly for sake of the cause of our beautiful National 
Freedom. 

Bitter the tears that were shed for their loss by their 
kindred and home-friends ; 

Sad was the mourning even of those who were personal 
strangers ; — 

But there arose the reflection : "How costly and pre- 
cious is Freedom !" 

"Woe worth the day" when the people of Hartford 
shall ever forget this ! 
Small the beginning, and slender the promise, of 
Hartford the new town ; 

But there was planted the genuine seed of all human 
improvement. 

Fairly it grew ; and at length it was called a colonial 
Small Town ; — 

Larger it grew until 'twas entitled a flourishing Large 
Town ; — 

Still it continued to grow and improve till a City 'twas 
reckoned ; — 

Then it was known as a City of culture, refinement, and 
learning ; — 

Afterwards, growing in wealth and in fame of its nu- 
merous merchants, 

Hartford was called a City of much commercial im- 
portance. 
When a young man first came to the place, he found 
it was larger 

Much than the other small Cities he'd seen in his lim- 
ited travels ; — 



HARTFORD 109 

Coming again, he found it like seven such Hartfords 
united. 

Still is the Beautiful City progressing, and growing in 
favor. 
Hartford has also sent out her sons to the ends of the 
great earth, — 

Sending them forth to collect and bring back all treas- 
ures of learning, 

Treasures of Art and Historical Relics from coun- 
tries of Old World- 
Natural products required for purpose of study or 
teaching, — 

Wealth of all kinds afforded by regions of land or of 
Ocean ; — 

Sending them forth to convey in good will to the peo- 
ple less favored 

Treasures of Art and of Learning, and various lessons 
of wisdom, 

Civilization, and blessings of heaven-born Laws and 
Religion ; — 

Sending them forth to inculcate the principles taught in 
the Gospel, — 

Good will to others, with honesty, truth and justice in 
dealing, — 

Sending them out to impart the beautiful lessons of 
Freedom ! 
What shall the future disclose in the fate of our City 
of Hartford? 

Turnnig our eyes to the Magical Glass that is standing 
before us, 

Double the View that's presented in wonderful boldness 
of outline ; — 

Changing from one to the other design with a change 
in the view-point, 
looking from right, the City appears extensive and 
growing, — 

Reaching to north till Windsor entire is fairly includ- 
ed, — 



no HARTFORD 

Reaching to south till neighboring Wethersfield's whol- 
ly encircled, — 

Reaching to east till sands of East Hartford are con- 
quered completely, — 

Reaching to west till mud of West Hartford is con- 
quered entirely, — 

Busy and bustling and noisy, and constantly cheerful 
and lively, — 

Rich in appearance, and rapidly changing its fortune to 
richer, — 

Showing great buildings both public and private of 
wonderful splendor, — 

Showing a great City Hall near the center, — and tow- 
ering above it 

Words in great letters expressing the Public-policy 
Motto — 

Saying distinctly to every one "We are helping our 
Neighbors !" 
Looking from left, the City appears a moldering 
ruin, — 

Streets are deserted ; the traffic is gone ; the machinery 
idle ; — 

Stores are not opened ; the houses are crumbling ; the 
people in mourning 

Saving a few who are standing around the great Hall 
of the City 

Reading the lately adopted new Public-policy Motto — 

Saying distinctly to every one "We are helping our- 
selves now!" 

Changing the Motto has brought to the City the direst 
of changes ! 
Hartford shall grow with the flight of the years and 
the ages, 

Blessing and blest by her Arts and Inventions and mul- 
tiplied Commerce, — 

Honored and loved by the wise and the good of all 
peoples and Nations, 



HARTFORD in 

If she adhere in good faith to that noble and generous 

purpose 
Briefly and clearly expressed in the words "We are 

helping our Neighbors !" 



JAN g 1906 



